Australia Signals It Won’t Block Turkey’s COP31 Bid as Hosting Standoff Intensifies

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that Australia will not veto Turkey’s bid to host next year’s COP31 climate summit, even as both countries continue to pursue the role. The announcement marks a subtle but significant shift, aimed at preventing a protracted diplomatic standoff that could fracture the unity needed to support Pacific island nations most vulnerable to climate change. Australia and Turkey both submitted bids in 2022 and have refused to withdraw. Albanese earlier ruled out Turkey’s proposal for a joint-hosting model, stressing that UNFCCC rules do not permit co-presidency. But he acknowledged growing concern among Pacific nations and other allies that ongoing deadlock could weaken the diplomatic cohesion required to drive stronger global climate action. “If Australia is not chosen, if Turkey is chosen, we wouldn’t seek to veto that,” Albanese told reporters. “What we would seek to do is ensure that the Pacific benefited from that.” He added that Australia is continuing broad engagement to ensure Pacific interests remain central regardless of the outcome. A government spokesperson clarified that Australia has not withdrawn its own bid and expects Turkey to refrain from blocking Australia should Canberra secure the consensus needed. “Australia has the overwhelming support of our peers,” the spokesperson said. Australia’s campaign—backed by the 18-member Pacific Islands Forum—focuses on co-hosting with Pacific nations for the first time, amplifying the voices of countries facing rising sea levels and calling for stronger global commitments on climate finance and emissions cuts. Under UN rules, the 28-member “Western Europe and Others Group,” which includes both contenders, must reach unanimous agreement at COP30, currently underway in Belém, Brazil. If neither country yields, hosting duties default to Bonn, Germany—though German officials have repeatedly said they do not want to take on the summit. With COP30 set to conclude on Friday, the window for resolving the stalemate is rapidly closing.