Australia has formally ceded its bid to host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in 2026, following an agreement with Türkiye that sees the summit relocated to Antalya, with Australia’s minister for climate and energy taking the lead on negotiations.

In exchange for relinquishing hosting rights, Australia secured the presidency over the negotiation agenda; the deal also includes a pre-COP event to be held in a Pacific Island nation aimed at highlighting the region’s climate vulnerabilities.

([ABC][1]) The reversal ends a high-stakes diplomatic effort that had seen Australia, backed by many Pacific nations, campaign for more than three years to host the event — framing it as a “Pacific COP” designed to spotlight the existential threats facing low-lying island states.

Many of those Pacific leaders responded with disappointment, stating the outcome weakens their chance to draw global attention to their climate-driven crises.

([RNZ][2]) Under the compromise worked out at this year’s COP30 summit in Belém, Türkiye will provide the venue, logistics and overall presidency of COP31, with the event scheduled for November 2026 in Antalya.

Australia — and specifically the minister Chris Bowen — will handle the diplomatic negotiations: preparing draft texts, appointing co-facilitators and shaping the summit’s agenda.

A pre-COP gathering will be held in the Pacific as part of the deal, coupled with renewed efforts to fund and support climate resilience in vulnerable nations.

([The Straits Times][3]) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterised the outcome as a pragmatic compromise under circumstances where consensus proved elusive, emphasising that it still positions Australia — together with Pacific nations — to influence the global climate agenda.

The pre-COP event is intended to raise visibility on the threats facing Pacific states, including rising sea levels, extreme weather and food-security risks.

([Australian Geographic][4]) However, reactions in the Pacific have underscored a sense of betrayal and lost opportunity.

Palau’s leader described the decision as deeply disappointing, arguing that a Pacific-hosted summit would have better captured the real and urgent climate challenges those island states endure.

Other Pacific diplomats warned that the revised format may fail to deliver the global solidarity and sense of urgency they had hoped for.

([RNZ][2]) The outcome marks a significant redrawing of influence ahead of COP31.

While Australia loses the venue it had long sought, its new role as president of negotiations ensures it retains a central hand in shaping outcomes — even as Pacific-region voices lament the lost chance to place their climate plight center-stage.

The next year will test whether the compromise can deliver both diplomatic leadership and meaningful, action-focused results.