Papua New Guinea has expressed discontent following Australia’s decision to abandon its bid to co-host next year’s UN climate talks, known as COP31, alongside Pacific island nations. Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko conveyed his dissatisfaction to Agence France-Presse, stating, “We are all not happy. And disappointed it’s ended up like this,” after it was confirmed that Australia would relinquish its hosting rights to Turkey.
Australia had been advocating to host the climate summit alongside South Pacific nations, which are increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and natural disasters. However, Australia pulled back its bid after Turkey, another proposed host, refused to yield in their negotiations. This would have marked a significant moment, as it would have been the first time this vital climate summit took place in the Pacific region.
Under a new arrangement announced by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Turkey will host the upcoming UN climate summit while Australia will focus on leading negotiations among governments, following discussions in Brazil. Tkatchenko criticized the COP process itself, labeling it a “waste of time” and expressing skepticism about its effectiveness, stating, “What has COP achieved over the years? Nothing… It’s just a talk fest and doesn’t hold the big polluters accountable.”
Historically, Pacific island leaders have voiced frustration with COP summits, often feeling marginalized and perceiving that the gatherings do not yield tangible solutions to their climate-related challenges. The aim to co-host the climate talks had been seen as an opportunity to amplify their voices and concerns. However, hosting the summit would also have subjected Australia’s environmental policies to intense scrutiny. The country has a contentious history regarding fossil fuel exports and has often treated climate action as a complex political issue.
Bikenibeu Paeniu, the former prime minister of Tuvalu, one of the nations facing existential threats from climate change, criticized Australia’s decision as indicative of a lack of commitment to climate justice. He emphasized the need for a reevaluation of Australia’s relationship with Pacific nations, stating that it is insufficient for the Pacific to host pre-COP events while Turkey leads the main summit.
Despite the setback, Paeniu underscored that the Pacific region will continue pushing for climate action, asserting, “What a miss but the Pacific will continue its fight no matter what.” Earlier this week, as diplomatic leaders convened in Belém, Brazil, Albanese affirmed that even if Australia was unsuccessful in hosting, he would find opportunities to keep climate change and the Pacific’s challenges a priority in discussions.
With an estimated 320,000 people in the Pacific displaced by climate-related disasters from 2008 to 2017, according to the International Organisation for Migration, and NASA projecting significant sea-level rise in the decades to come, the urgency of the Pacific islands’ fight remains critical as they advocate for meaningful and effective climate action on the global stage.
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