Turkey to host COP31 after Australia concedes

Turkey bagged the hosting rights for COP31, while Australia reluctantly agreed to lead the summit's negotiations, ending a diplomatic standoff between the two countries over the presidency of next year's UN climate conference.

Both countries had bid to host next year's COP, with Australia emerging with greater support. Turkey, however, refused to withdraw its bid for the climate conference.  

Australia eventually compromised and agreed to a pre-COP event staged in the Pacific and to preside over the negotiations during COP31.

"Obviously, it would be great if Australia could have it all. But we can't have it all," said a dejected Chris Bowen, Australia's climate minister, on Wednesday during this year's COP30 in Brazil.

"What we've come up with is a big win for both Australia and Turkey," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

How did the impasse unfold and get resolved?

Both Turkey and Australia refused to back down, leading to a tug-of-war in Belem. If neither country had conceded, COP31 would have by default landed in Germany's lap, as it hosts the UN climate body's offices.

Australia had pitched its bid as a "Pacific COP," partnering with climate-vulnerable low-lying island nations and emphasizing the threat of rising sea levels.

The meeting to break the deadlock was chaired by German State Secretary for the Environment Jochen Flasbarth, who told the AFP news agency that the co-hosting proposal was "innovative" and that he had not heard any opposition to the plan. 

Meanwhile, Turkey proposed that, as an emerging economy, it would promote solidarity between rich and poor countries at its summit, focusing more on a global rather than regional aspect. The summit will be held in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.

Though Australia had overwhelming support from other countries, the UN COP rules also require a consensus to be reached.

Eventually, an uncommon solution was reached wherein Turkey would host the 200-nation summit, but Australia would preside over the negotiations.

Extra reporting by Giulia Saudelli. Edited by Sean Sinico