Australia is stepping up its climate-diplomacy push for COP31 by pledging to work with Pacific nations to secure co-hosting rights, as it also announces the appointment of Will Nankervis as its new Ambassador for Climate Change. The government said the Foreign Affairs Minister announced the move on Monday, with Nankervis set to spearhead international climate diplomacy focused on the Pacific and Southeast Asia and to coordinate efforts to bring COP31 to the region.
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong emphasized that Australia has heard the Pacific’s call for urgent climate action and will continue to advocate with Pacific partners on the world stage. She noted that the Albanese government is delivering climate action at home while engaging with international partners to drive collective action abroad, underscoring that no single country can solve the climate crisis alone.
Nankervis, a senior career officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, currently serves as First Assistant Secretary of the Climate Diplomacy and Development Finance Division. His diplomatic background includes Australia’s Ambassador to ASEAN in Jakarta and postings with the United Nations in New York and Colombo. The government highlighted that Pacific nations face some of the most severe climate impacts despite contributing the least to the crisis, a point echoed by Pacific leaders who have identified climate change as the region’s top security threat.
Pacifc Island Affairs Minister Pat Conroy praised the region as “a region at the frontline of the climate crisis with a long and impressive record of climate leadership.” Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen also pointed to the economic opportunities tied to climate action, noting that global clean energy investment has surpassed USD 2 trillion. He said Australia’s bid to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific is about drawing global focus to the region.
Nankervis will replace Kristin Tilley, who has held the role since 2022. The move comes as Pacific leaders, including Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr., have urged Australia to host a major climate meeting for Pacific countries. Whipps, who visited Sydney in April, argued that hosting COP31 would help Pacific nations collaborate more effectively and attract more funding for clean energy projects.
The COP31 conference is a yearly forum where world leaders discuss climate action. Australia has signaled its aim to host COP31 in 2026 in partnership with Pacific nations, a development that would mark a historic moment for the region and could significantly boost regional cooperation on climate resilience and clean energy investment.
Context and analysis:
– The appointment of Nankervis signals a focused diplomatic push to mobilize support across Pacific partners and UN groups, while leveraging Australia’s domestic climate gains to bolster its regional leadership.
– The bid faces geopolitical considerations, including Turkey’s competing bid for COP31, and negotiations within UN negotiating blocs as Australia seeks consensus with Pacific allies.
– If successful, the COP31 bid could unlock increased investment in renewable energy across the Pacific, align domestic energy transition goals with regional needs, and strengthen strategic ties with Pacific nations facing existential climate risks.
– Public sentiment and regional backing have been favorable in recent discussions, with Pacific leaders linking COP31 to regional unity and broader development benefits.
What this means for readers:
– A potential COP31 hosted in the Pacific would put climate resilience, renewable energy, and climate financing at the forefront of regional development discussions.
– The partnership model with Pacific nations aims to ensure the summit reflects Pacific priorities, including loss-and-damage considerations and accelerated energy transitions away from fossil fuels.
Summary: Australia intensifies its campaign to co-host COP31 with Pacific island nations, appointing Will Nankervis as Ambassador for Climate Change to lead diplomacy and coordinate the bid. Backed by Pacific leaders and focusing on regional leadership in climate action, the initiative seeks a 2026 COP31 in the Pacific, promising heightened visibility and potential investment in clean energy for the region.
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