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Turkey Wins Cop31 Climate Summit Hosting Rights
20 Nov
Summary
- Turkey will host the Cop31 climate conference in Antalya in November 2026.
- Australia unexpectedly withdrew its bid for the hosting venue.
- A deal was struck between Australian and Turkish climate ministers.
Turkey will host the 2026 Cop31 climate conference in Antalya, following Australia's last-minute withdrawal of its bid. The decision was confirmed by independent sources, with the event slated for November 2026 in Turkey's Mediterranean resort city. The agreement was reportedly reached between Australian Climate Minister Chris Bowen and Turkish counterpart Murat Kurum during Cop30 in Brazil.
Australia had pursued hosting for over three years, proposing a deal where it would lead negotiations in exchange for backing down on the venue. Pacific island nations, who were promised co-host status and a focus on climate threats, had their hopes for a significant international spotlight diminished by this shift.
The resolution came after a period of uncertainty, with Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese indicating a shift in stance. Under UN rules, a failure to agree could have led to the conference defaulting to Bonn, Germany, a scenario both nations aimed to avoid.
