Turkey Secures COP31 Hosting After Australia’s Surprising Withdrawal

The 2026 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) will be hosted in Turkey, following Australia’s unexpected withdrawal from its bid to host the event. This decision emerged during negotiations at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, resolving a prolonged deadlock among the UN regional grouping responsible for selecting the host nation.

The conference will take place in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, with Australia’s Climate Minister, Chris Bowen, appointed as COP president. This arrangement is notable as the COP president is typically designated from the host country, marking a departure from traditional protocols in UN climate diplomacy.

Bowen expressed confidence in the shared leadership model, stating, “As COP president, I would have all the powers required to guide negotiations — from appointing co-facilitators to drafting the cover decision.” He confirmed that Turkey will appoint a venue president to oversee logistics, scheduling, and operations.

A key aspect of the agreement is a pre-COP meeting to be held on a Pacific island state, aimed at addressing the concerns of Pacific Island nations. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese hailed the outcome as “an outstanding result,” underscoring that Pacific climate priorities will remain “front and centre.” Albanese highlighted discussions with leaders from Papua New Guinea and Fiji, emphasizing the importance of including climate-vulnerable states in the dialogue.

Despite this, some Pacific leaders voiced disappointment regarding Australia’s hosting withdrawal. Papua New Guinea’s Foreign Minister, Justin Tkatchenko, expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “We are all not happy. And disappointed it’s ended up like this.” Solomon Islands leader Jeremiah Manele had previously indicated he would feel “disappointed” if Australia did not secure hosting rights.

Australia had actively campaigned for COP31 to be held in Adelaide as a co-hosted summit with Pacific Island nations, arguing that these nations should play a central role in discussions. The lack of consensus on the host had become a concern for the UN climate system, raising fears that the conference could default back to Bonn, Germany, home of the UN climate secretariat. Bowen labeled this possibility as “irresponsible,” given the ongoing global climate emergency.

Turkey asserted its position to host COP31, citing its previous decision to step aside in 2021, allowing the UK to host COP26 in Glasgow. Following this latest agreement, Turkish officials are poised to commence planning as soon as the deal is ratified by the over 190 countries in attendance at COP30. While the agreement requires formal approval from the UN climate assembly, diplomats anticipate few objections due to the challenges overcome to reach this compromise.

As COP30 continues in Brazil, the unexpected partnership between Australia and Turkey represents a significant shift from decades of COP hosting tradition. The success of this dual-led model will be closely monitored, as it may set a precedent for future climate conferences. For now, this breakthrough concludes a prolonged stalemate and lays the groundwork for what could be a historic climate summit in Antalya.