Adelaide's COP31 bid delivers $3.1bn business events windfall before hosting decision

As a decision on COP31 hosting rights nears, Premier Peter Malinauskas has dropped a titbit of information to inoculate against any fallout of a failed Adelaide bid.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is moving to inoculate against Adelaide’s highly touted COP31 bid failing, declaring a global spotlight on the state has already delivered $3.1bn worth of potential future business events.

A decision is expected by Friday, when the Brazil UN Climate Change Conference ends, on hosting rights for COP31 in November next year – Australia’s bid is deadlocked with Turkey.

Mr Malinauskas, who on Friday morning declared he would not go ahead with plans to attend the Brazil conference, is arguing the international attention drawn by Adelaide’s COP31 bid is already generating major economic momentum.

In a statement to be released on Sunday, he argues the pipeline of potential future business events in South Australia has more than doubled compared with the same time last year, and is now valued at $3.1bn over the next five years.

Premier Peter Malinauskas speaking at the Adelaide Convention Centre in October. Picture: Brett Hartwig.

“COP31 is an incredible opportunity for South Australia on so many fronts. The world is paying attention to South Australia,” Mr Malinauskas said.

“We already have proven our mettle at attracting major international business events, however our candidacy for COP is helping drive this even further.”

Business Events Adelaide chief executive officer Damien Kitto backed the Premier, saying since the announcement of Adelaide as a potential COP host, there had been “a clear uplift in inquiries and expressions of interest from across the world”.

“We’re seeing more conversations, more leads, and a growing perception of Adelaide as a serious global player in the business events space,” said Mr Kitto, whose group is the peak independent body for SA’s business events.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had written to him in the past 24 hours and maintained his country’s bid to host COP31.

Mr Albanese said Australia would continue to advocate for Adelaide to host the event, in partnership with the Pacific.

Originally published as Adelaide's COP31 bid delivers $3.1bn business events windfall before hosting decision