Australia rejects co-hosting the climate summit with Turkey

Monday 17 November 2025 - 09:00

By: Sahili Aya

Australia rejects co-hosting the climate summit with Turkey

Australia has declined Turkey’s proposal to co-host next year’s UN Climate Summit (COP31), Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Monday, citing procedural rules and ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Turkey revealed on Sunday that it had suggested a joint hosting arrangement with Australia to break the deadlock over who would lead COP31. Both countries submitted bids in 2022 and neither has withdrawn, creating a prolonged stalemate that has complicated preparations for the summit.

Speaking to reporters in Melbourne, Albanese dismissed the idea of co-hosting, saying it was not permitted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“Co-hosting is not an alternative, and people know it isn’t an option. That is why it was ruled out,” Albanese said.

A diplomatic impasse

The unresolved dispute has placed additional pressure on COP30, currently underway in Belém, Brazil, to deliver clarity. COP hosts play a crucial role in shaping the agenda and leading negotiations, making the choice of location strategically important.

For more than a decade, COP gatherings have evolved from formal diplomatic forums into large global events where host nations showcase economic initiatives linked to climate action.

This month, President Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly raised the issue directly with Albanese in a bid to advance Turkey’s position. Ankara has also emphasized the importance of elevating the concerns of vulnerable nations, especially in the Pacific.

Pacific support for Australia’s bid

The Pacific Islands Forum — a regional diplomacy bloc of 18 nations — has publicly backed Australia’s bid. Rising sea levels pose an existential threat to many member states, strengthening arguments for a COP summit centered on Pacific climate challenges.

Despite international pressure, neither Australia nor Turkey has shown signs of withdrawing its bid, leaving the final decision still uncertain.