As part of the compromise between rival Turkey and Australia’s bids for the COP31 climate summit in 2026, Climate Minister Chirs Bowen has been appointed as a “COP president”.
After years of negotiations the nations have come to the deal that the Pacific hosts a “pre-COP” event, Mr Bowen receives a significant presidency role but Turkey ultimately gains hosting rights of the climate conference.
While the host nation always gets the COP presidency rights at the event — meaning Turkey will have that this year — Mr Bowen has been appointed president of negotiations in the lead up to the summit.
It means he’ll attend various engagements globally, deliver speeches and help shape debate in the lead up to the next COP summit.
“Basically, as COP president of negotiations, I would have all the powers of the COP presidency to manage, to handle the negotiations, to appoint co-facilitators, to prepare draft text and to issue a cover decision,” Mr Bowen said, when asked to explain the nuance between the two presidency gigs.
“Obviously it’s tradition that the COP president is the host and handles the venues and the operation of the COP session.”