Pacific climate leaders have voiced their disappointment following Australia’s unsuccessful bid to host the United Nations Climate Conference, COP31, planned for 2026. Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr. expressed his deep disappointment with the decision, emphasizing the importance of hosting the conference in the Pacific region to address urgent climate issues.
In reaction to this outcome, Australia’s Climate Minister Chris Bowen announced a new agreement that positions him as the COP president for the upcoming negotiations, with a pre-COP meeting being held in the Pacific. The primary conference will take place in Türkiye, allowing Australia to prepare key documents while Türkiye manages the logistical aspects. This arrangement, Bowen said, is necessary to ensure effective preparation for the critical climate discussions ahead.
Whipps highlighted the crucial need for a Pacific COP, advocating that the unique challenges of the region, including food security and the economic impacts of climate change, need focused attention. He pointed out that extreme climate events, such as droughts, floods, and typhoons, are increasingly threatening Pacific communities.
Although Australia and Pacific leaders received considerable support in their proposal to host COP31, extended negotiations with Türkiye ultimately resulted in a deadlock. In the absence of an agreement, Germany’s Bonn was prepared to step in as a host, which would have left COP without a designated president for a year—a scenario that Bowen deemed irresponsible given the pressing issues facing global climate cooperation.
Bowen acknowledged the intricacies of the negotiations with Türkiye, reiterating that while it was disappointing not to have the conference in Australia, reaching a consensus was essential. He expressed that having the conference in Australia would have been beneficial, but collaboration is key in multilateral discussions.
Shiva Gounden, head of Pacific campaigns for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, raised concerns that missing the opportunity to host COP31 could hinder the Pacific region’s pursuit of climate justice. He emphasized the advantages of geographic proximity during negotiations, allowing Pacific leaders to influence discussions on the values integral to their communities’ ways of life.
Gounden also criticized the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for its failure to deliver a clear path amidst the complications leading to COP30. He warned that unresolved issues could move negotiations to Bonn, further complicating an already fragile framework for multilateralism.
Sindra Sharma, international policy lead for the Pacific Islands Climate Action Network (PICAN), reiterated that the decision on the COP31 presidency does not exempt global actors from their commitments under the Paris Agreement. She pointed out that every fraction of a degree of warming represents a setback for current and future generations, stressing the critical need for consistent climate action. As COP30 concludes, Sharma emphasized the importance of achieving strong outcomes that address the aspirations and equity deserved by frontline communities.
Despite these setbacks, the Pacific region’s commitment to climate action remains unwavering, highlighting a collective resolve to push for significant reforms and resilience against the persistent impacts of climate challenges.