London | The Albanese government has been left in limbo over its campaign to host the sprawling annual COP climate summit in 2026, after rival bidder Turkey rejected the prime minister’s requests to stand down so vulnerable Pacific Island states could have a turn.

Negotiations at COP29 in Baku that ended on Saturday (Sunday AEDT) failed to endorse the Australian bid for the right to host as many as 80,000 delegates from up to 196 countries for the fortnight-long COP31. The campaign stalled as Turkey refused direct entreaties to step aside from both Anthony Albanese and Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen.