Australia and Pacific Islands Launch Bid to Host COP31 in 2026
- Pacific Legal Network
- Oct 10
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
By Dirk Heinz and Jeff Ke
The COP31 forum, also known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties, is the most important annual global climate change summit. All countries that are parties to the UNFCCC participate in each year’s summit, where negotiations about fair climate change solutions occur and progress is tracked on global climate change goals.
Why this is important?
Australia and the Pacific Islands are particularly interested in hosting the forum given the effects of climate change on the region. The Pacific region has long been affected by global warming, rising sea levels and changed weather patterns. Deep-sea mining has been in recent headlines as countries such as the Cook Islands and Tonga sign new agreements with mining companies for exploration of their deep seabeds for the possibility of future resource exploitation. To top things off, the International Court of Justice recently published its decision that countries had a legal obligation to protect the climate and that a failure to do so may mean that countries are liable for reparations to other countries harmed by climate change.
This all means that the opportunity to host the forum and be responsible for deciding many of the agenda items that will be discussed is particularly valuable to bring those issues to the forefront for the Pacific region. However, while many Pacific governments have thrown their support behind Australia’s bid to host, that support is not unanimous. Underlying tensions between Australia and many Pacific countries regarding the former’s emissions targets (which many Pacific nations view as too modest) continue to simmer. After carrying the torch in the fight against climate change for many years, the people of the Pacific would be justified in feeling the region is owed a COP of their own. From a pure logistics and resourcing point of view, Australia hosting the convention might just be the best the region can hope for right now.
Is hosting COP31 worthwhile for Australia?
For Australia, there is a balance to be struck between the policy and economics of hosting COP. The current Government of Australia clearly wants to be viewed as progressive on climate, particularly in the eyes of our Pacific neighbours. Hosting the forum would bolster Australia’s global climate credentials. But it is also a possible investment boon for Australia, with the potential for the forum to generate considerable outside investment for Australia. In recent years, the forum has become an avenue to attract collaboration in the renewable energy sectors of host nations. An opportunity to host may mean the launch of new partnerships and commitments to clean energy and could lead to a general boost in foreign investment. However, the forum also costs many millions of dollars to put on and Australian taxpayers will foot much of the bill. For some, Australia’s decision to bid is seen not just as a policy move, but also a strategic business decision.
Challenges with Türkiye
Australia’s bid is not without its challenges; Türkiye has also made a bid to host the forum and is so far refusing to drop out. The latter’s reason for bidding to host is that it had previously withdrawn from hosting COP26, which ultimately occurred in Glasgow, Scotland in 2021.
In order to host the forum, a nation must have unanimous support from the 28 members of the Western European and Others Group (WEOG), the UN regional group that is responsible for choosing the hosting nation for COP31. While, according to Chris Bowen, the Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Australia has the overwhelming support of the majority of the WEOG members, it cannot be appointed the host until Türkiye withdraws its bid.
If Türkiye and Australia do not resolve this impasse by November 2025, the summit will default to being held in Germany, which would seem a ludicrous fall-back position.
No doubt a chance Australia and the Pacific Islands hosting the COP31 forum will be a valuable opportunity to raise awareness on climate change challenges in the region. While it would seem there are more supporters around the Pacific region of Australia hosting than there are detractors, Australia will still need to clear a number of hurdles, both foreign and domestic, before it can seal negotiations to host COP.
For more updates on the legal impacts of climate change in the Pacific, please read some of our other articles.
Reference List
