Australia Intensifies Push to Host COP31 as Bowen Heads to Brazil for Final Talks

Australia is making a last-ditch diplomatic push to secure hosting rights for next year’s COP31 climate summit, with Energy Minister Chris Bowen set to fly to Brazil on Saturday for negotiations at the COP30 gathering in Belém. The high-stakes effort comes amid a two-year standoff with Turkey, the only other bidder, with neither side willing to step aside. Bowen said a final decision will be made at COP30 and claimed Australia enjoys “overwhelming support” from the international community. Speaking at Sydney Airport, he emphasised he would advocate forcefully for Australia’s bid while showcasing the nation’s clean-energy transition. Australia wants to co-host COP31 with Pacific island nations — a first in COP history — to highlight the region’s acute vulnerability to climate change and strengthen ties with neighbours facing rising seas. The 18-member Pacific Islands Forum has formally endorsed Australia’s bid, underscoring the regional support behind it. “Our nation has a lot at stake when it comes to climate change,” Bowen said, adding that urgent collective action is essential to avert the worst impacts. The bid is also central to Australia’s broader ambition to become a “renewable energy superpower,” as the country accelerates investment in critical minerals, green steel, battery technologies and the shift away from coal and gas. Turkey, however, remains firm in its competing proposal. Ankara says it wants a COP that puts climate-finance challenges of developing nations at the forefront and highlights its progress toward a 2053 net-zero target. The outcome carries significant diplomatic and economic implications. Hosting COP would position Australia to shape the global climate agenda while gaining a platform to attract green investment. With a decision expected in Brazil, Australia’s credibility, regional leadership and clean-energy ambitions now hinge on the final hours of negotiation.