Australia wishes to co-host the global COP31 UN climate talks in partnership with the Pacific in 2026. This Conference of the Parties is the 31st annual formal meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change – a conference where parties come together to develop common rules and explain their progress, or not, in lowering emissions against agreed targets.

This COP is important for Australia and its Pacific neighbours in many important ways. The fact that COP31 is proposed as a regional initiative – in the form of a partnership arrangement – that could involve a pre-COP meeting in the Pacific is a great advantage.