Delegates at COP30 agreed that Turkey will host COP31 in Antalya after Australia withdrew its bid in exchange for chairing the conference and holding the COP presidency next year. The deal, reportedly brokered by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, preserves a single leadership track and avoids a potential year without an appointed COP president. Australia will host a pre-COP meeting and sought to highlight Pacific island vulnerabilities. The arrangement must still be ratified by about 190 countries at COP30.
Turkey to Host COP31 in Antalya After Deal With Australia
Delegates at COP30 agreed that Turkey will host COP31 in Antalya after Australia withdrew its bid in exchange for chairing the conference and holding the COP presidency next year. The deal, reportedly brokered by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, preserves a single leadership track and avoids a potential year without an appointed COP president. Australia will host a pre-COP meeting and sought to highlight Pacific island vulnerabilities. The arrangement must still be ratified by about 190 countries at COP30.
03:50 AM, 11/21/2025Environment
Leaders at COP30 reached a compromise on hosting arrangements for the next U.N. climate summit: Turkey will host COP31 in the Mediterranean city of Antalya, while Australia withdrew its formal bid in exchange for key leadership roles in the process.
Under the agreement, an Australian minister will chair the conference and Australia will hold the COP presidency next year, with Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen expected to serve as COP president. Australia will also host a pre-COP meeting ahead of the main summit.
Australian officials expressed disappointment at backing away from a full hosting bid, saying they had hoped to co-host with Pacific island states that are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts. Still, delegates emphasized that preserving consensus and ensuring continuous leadership for the next 12 months outweighed the dispute over venue.
"It is really disappointing that Turkey's expression to veto the will of the rest of the world to have the event here has resulted in this outcome because we would have done it really well and everyone knows that," said South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas.
"But the fact that everybody knows it is a good legacy to have," he added.
Reports indicate the agreement was brokered with direct involvement from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish officials noted that they previously stepped aside in 2021 to allow the United Kingdom to host COP26 in Glasgow.
Delegates warned that without a deal before COP30 concluded, the fallback would have been Bonn, Germany, and the process could have lacked an appointed president and lead coordination for a year. Chris Bowen called the compromise "acceptable," saying it avoids a disruptive 12-month leadership gap that would hinder planning and international cooperation.
The hosting arrangement still requires ratification by the roughly 190 countries represented at COP30. Observers expect approval, given the diplomatic effort that produced the compromise and the priority placed on maintaining a clear leadership track for the upcoming year.