Australia bows out of running for COP in 2024, launches bid to co-host in 2026

Australia will jointly bid with Pacific nations to host the United Nations climate summit in 2026 after the government decided against putting itself forward for an earlier conference.

Despite previously holding ambitions to host the 2024 summit, Climate and Energy Minister Chris Bowen announced on Saturday that Australia would bow out of the running due to the timeframe and geopolitical tensions.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen has made a bid for Australia to host the COP31 conference in 2026. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“It’s the right year for us to bid, I’m looking forward to talking to international colleagues about Australia’s bid, about what we can bring to the table as a host of the world’s biggest trade fair, as a host of COP in 2026,” Bowen said in western Sydney on Saturday morning.

“It’s an opportunity to work closely with our Pacific family, and we will seek to co-host the bid with the Pacific to help elevate the case of the Pacific for more climate action.”

He said 2024 was “Eastern Europe’s year.”

“Given the geopolitical situation, we considered whether it wouldn’t be a good idea for Australia to host that,” he said, adding the government also wanted “many years to prepare and provide the best COP possible”.

Bowen also announced Kristin Tilley, who has over a decade of experience with climate change policy, would be appointed to the role of the Ambassador for Climate Change, to work with other countries to tackle the crisis.

“This is an opportunity, of course, for Australia to remind the world that we’re back. We’re back at the international table,” Bowen said.

Australia has lagged developed countries on its climate action, with the former government of Scott Morrison resisting pressure to set more ambitious carbon emission targets at last year’s Glasgow climate summit.

Bowen is leading Australia’s delegation to attend COP27 climate summit in Egypt from Sunday.

The absence of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has prompted criticism from former Kiribati president Anote Tong, who said it suggested Australia “may not be in a position to make significant commitments at the talks.”

Albanese will be travelling to meetings of ASEAN, APEC and the G20 in Cambodia, Thailand and Bali, which conflict with the second week of the COP.

South Pacific leaders have said that climate change-induced rising sea levels and more intense storms are starting to erode their island homes.

WWF Australia welcomed the government’s bid to co-host the COP31 climate talks, although it said Australia should also reconsider its position on allowing new coal and gas developments.

“We need to exit from fossil fuels on a set timeline and deliver on climate finance to support our Pacific neighbours, who have contributed the least to the climate emergency yet are experiencing the brunt of its impacts,” chief executive Dermot O’Gorman said.

“Wealthy countries, including Australia, still haven’t met their $100 billion pledge to help developing countries face climate change, and the risks are rising.”

With Reuters

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