Turkey to Host COP31 After Australia Bows Out in Unusual Climate Deal

Hosting deal finalised after long deadlock

COP31 — the 2026 United Nations climate conference — will be held in Antalya, Turkey, under a compromise agreement reached between Turkey and Australia at the ongoing COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Under the arrangement: Turkey will host the summit and assume its presidency, while Australia will take on the role of leading the negotiations for the conference — a highly unusual split of responsibilities within the UN climate system. Australia officially withdrew its bid to host the event in Adelaide, after years of campaigning, in order to end the stalemate and allow the summit to move forward.

Why the compromise matters and how it was reached

The hosting rights of COP31 had become deadlocked. Both Australia and Turkey had submitted bids in 2022 to host the summit, and neither would back down. Australia had strong backing from the Pacific Islands Forum and many Western countries, and hoped to host the summit with a strong Pacific‑focus. But Turkey held firm in the negotiations. The compromise avoids the risk of the summit defaulting to Bonn, Germany, which would have been required under UN rules if no host could be agreed.

What the roles will look like

• Turkey will serve as host and presidency, responsible for venue, logistics, conference facilities and official hosting duties.
• Australia’s climate minister, Chris Bowen, is expected to act as president of negotiations, leading the drafting of negotiation texts, appointing co‑facilitators and shaping the agenda.
• A pre‑summit event is expected to occur in a Pacific island nation, reflecting Australia’s push to give the Pacific region greater visibility in the climate process.

Reactions: praise and disappointment

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the outcome as “a strong result” and framed the deal as a practical way to ensure the summit went ahead with leadership. However, many Pacific leaders expressed disappointment, arguing that the hosting would have been a unique opportunity to centre Pacific issues and give island nations a greater voice. Climate advocacy groups welcomed the deal as at least ensuring the continuity of the global climate process, but warned that hosting rights alone don’t guarantee ambitious outcomes or meaningful commitments — urging that the agreement deliver on fossil‑fuel phase‑out, loss and damage and finance for vulnerable countries.

What it means for the climate agenda

With this deal:

• The summit will still proceed on schedule, allowing global climate diplomacy to stay on track.
• Australia retains significant influence over the negotiation texts and process, even without hosting.
• Turkey will be under international scrutiny to ensure civil society access, robust agenda‑setting and tangible outcomes — particularly given its different climate profile and geopolitical context.
• The arrangement emphasises that hosting is no longer just about location: leadership of negotiations is arguably the more critical role for climate action.

What happens next

Preparations for COP31 now move into full gear. Turkey will begin organising the venue, accommodation, logistics and host‑country responsibilities.
Australia will ramp up its diplomatic preparation, stakeholder engagement (including with Pacific nations) and negotiation strategy, given its role in shaping the summit’s substance.
Both countries will need to coordinate closely to ensure that the dual‑leadership model works effectively — ensuring clarity on roles, responsibilities and division of labour.
Civil‑society groups will also monitor whether this split leadership model strengthens or weakens transparency, inclusion and ambition in the COP process.

The bottom line

The Turkey–Australia deal to host COP31 offers a pragmatic resolution to a potentially damaging stalemate. While Australia loses the hosting spotlight it sought, it retains significant influence over the summit’s substance. Turkey takes on the role of host and presidency, signaling a shift in how the UN climate process can be organised. Whether this novel arrangement delivers stronger climate‑action outcomes remains to be seen — but it does ensure the global summit will proceed next year with leadership in place.