Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has publicly stated that his country will not veto COP31 next year if Turkey is selected as host, in a marked shift in Canberra’s posture amid a deadlock with Türkiye over the summit’s location.

Speaking in Perth on Tuesday evening, Mr Albanese emphasised that Australia’s primary concern is ensuring the interests of Pacific Island nations are upheld in the outcome.

Australia continues to pursue hosting the summit in Adelaide, partnering with Pacific countries that are highly exposed to climate impacts.

However, Mr Albanese acknowledged that if consensus cannot be reached and Türkiye is chosen, Australia would not seek to block the decision — “we wouldn’t seek to veto that,” he said.

Under the rules of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a host is selected through consensus among members of the regional group, and if both Australia and Türkiye remain candidates without agreement, the fallback location is Bonn, Germany, where the UN climate secretariat is headquartered.

Mr Albanese warned that defaulting to Bonn would send “a poor signal about the unity that’s needed” for global climate action.

On the same evening, an Australian government spokesperson clarified that the contest is still live — Türkiye has not yet been formally selected and Australia continues to enjoy “overwhelming support” among the key 28-country Western European and Others Group whose turn it is to host the summit.

The spokesperson added: “Turkey shouldn’t block us, just as we wouldn’t block them if the situation were reversed.”

Australia's bid carries the backing of at least 23 members of that group, though the impasse remains because Türkiye refuses to withdraw.

In the meantime, Foreign and Climate ministers have intensified diplomacy: Australia’s Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen met Turkish contacts and the first lady, Emine Erdoğan, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly to press Australia’s case.

Mr Albanese said Australia’s concession is contingent on Turkey meeting certain conditions, including holding a standalone leaders’ meeting in the Pacific and making significant commitments to increase financing for climate resilience that would assist the world’s most vulnerable nations.

These measures are designed to anchor the Pacific’s interests in any outcome.

Australia’s bid to host the summit is pitched as an opportunity to bring global leaders to the region, exhibit renewable-energy innovation and align with Pacific climate priorities.

Mr Bowen has described the event as the “world’s largest clean-energy trade fair.” Estimates for hosting exceed one billion Australian dollars, and there are reportedly mixed views within federal cabinet over the cost and scale.

With the current host, Belém in Brazil, concluding its summit, time is running out for Australia and Türkiye to resolve their differences ahead of the critical decision.

As one government source put it: “We will continue to negotiate with Türkiye in good faith for an outcome in the best interests of the Pacific and our national interest.”

The standoff underscores the diplomatic and geopolitical stakes of hosting key international climate forums.

How Australia, Türkiye and the Pacific region navigate this impasse could shape climate-diplomacy dynamics for years to come.