QAZAQ GREEN.  The United Nations Climate Conference (COP31) is set to take place in Türkiye next year following an agreement reached between Australia and Turkey. Antalya is expected to host the main event, T24 reports.

Months of friction between the two countries concluded during COP30 negotiations in Brazil, where parties agreed that Türkiye will host the 2025 summit.

Under UN rules, the 2026 climate conference was due to be hosted by the Western Europe and Others Group. Türkiye and Australia, both members of the group, announced their candidacies in 2022, but the host country must be chosen by unanimous agreement. Neither Ankara nor Canberra had been willing to withdraw, raising the prospect of moving the summit to Bonn – an option Germany indicated little enthusiasm for.

A compromise emerged during COP30: Australia agreed to support Türkiye’s bid in exchange for presiding over the negotiations. This arrangement is unusual, as the COP President is typically from the host country.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the agreement “an outstanding outcome,” noting that Pacific issues would be “front and centre.” Australia had pushed strongly for Adelaide to host and sought to co-organise the summit with Pacific island nations that are among the most affected by climate change and sea-level rise.

Turkey, proposing Antalya as the venue, argued it had a strong claim after stepping aside in 2021 to allow the UK to host COP26 in Glasgow.

Under the agreement, the pre-COP meeting will take place on a Pacific island, while the main summit will be held in Türkiye. Australia’s Climate Minister Chris Bowen will assume the COP presidency.

Bowen said compromise was essential and that failure to reach agreement would have shifted the event to Bonn, resulting in “a 12-month leadership void,” which he described as unacceptable. He emphasised that he will hold the full authority of the COP presidency, including managing negotiations, appointing co-facilitators, drafting texts and issuing the final decision.

Bowen also confirmed that Türkiye will appoint a chair responsible for organising the venue, sessions, and overall logistics of the event.