The news: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that the government is prepared to cede hosting of next year’s COP31 climate summit to Turkey, insisting that the interests of Pacific Island countries should be prioritised amid the deadlock.
The context: Speaking to reporters in Perth on Tuesday night, Albanese said that while Australia wanted to win hosting rights for the event, the possibility that hosting the event could default to Germany would be a bad outcome for global action on climate change.
As hosting rights are decided by consensus rules, with both Turkey and Australia remaining in the race, the UN rules require that the even must take place in the organisation’s host agency.
“There is considerable concern, not just from the Pacific, but internationally as well, that that will not send a good signal about the unity that’s needed for the world to act on climate”, Albanese said.
Albanese added that “if Australia is not chosen, if Türkiye is chosen, we wouldn’t seek to veto that.”
“What we would seek to do is to ensure that the Pacific benefited from that, through measures potentially like a leaders meeting to be held in the Pacific, by support for the financing (of climate resilience)”, he continued.
Albanese said both countries remained “in the field”, having put forward bids in good faith.
Turkey has accused Australia of “stalling the process” and that the country had repeatedly avoided compromise in earlier meetings.
On Monday Albanese categorically ruled out co-hosting the event with Turkey, citing rules of the UNFCCC.
The source: PMO statement