COP31 is in Türkiye. So why is Australia running the talks?

In November, the world's climate negotiators meet in Antalya, Türkiye, for COP31. Australia is not hosting it. Yet an Australian minister will be running the negotiations. That unusual arrangement is worth understanding, because it gives Australia and the Pacific more say over the outcome than a normal participant would have.

How the arrangement came about

Australia and Türkiye both wanted to host the 2026 conference. In November 2025 they reached a compromise. According to the Foreign Minister's media release, Türkiye hosts COP31 in Antalya, and Australia takes the role of President of Negotiations in the lead-up to and at the meeting.

The release says Australia will have "exclusive authority in relation to the negotiations". Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen holds that role.

The key dates

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water sets out the timetable:

• 5 to 8 October 2026: Fiji hosts the Pre-COP preparatory meeting, and Tuvalu hosts a leaders' event, both in partnership with Australia.

• 9 to 20 November 2026: COP31, including the World Leaders' Summit, in Antalya.

What a President of Negotiations does

At a COP, countries negotiate the details of how climate agreements are carried out: targets, rules and the ambition needed. The department describes Australia's job as leading the official negotiations, working with Türkiye as COP31 President, and building consensus across all the negotiating issues.

In practice, the person running the negotiations shapes the agenda, decides how drafts move between groups, and pushes for compromise when talks stall. It is influential, but it does not let one country dictate outcomes. Decisions at a COP are made by consensus among the parties.

Why the Pacific is central

The Pacific islands face some of the most direct threats from climate change. The agreement between Australia and Türkiye includes a special pre-COP hosted in the Pacific, which the Foreign Minister's release says will bring attention to the existential threat climate change poses to the region.

Three Pacific COP31 envoys have been appointed. The department says their role is to make sure the region's leadership and voices shape the outcomes. Türkiye and Australia will also work with Pacific island countries on the COP31 Action Agenda.

What to watch

A few things will show whether the arrangement delivers:

• The Pre-COP in Fiji and Tuvalu. Priorities agreed there will shape the Antalya agenda.

• Climate finance. The department says one of the envoys, Papua New Guinea's special envoy for climate and environment, will focus on improving access to climate finance for Pacific island countries.

• How Australia balances its roles. Running negotiations fairly for all parties while also advancing Pacific interests will test Australia's diplomacy.

The ABC's report on the November 2025 agreement explains how the compromise was reached.

This explainer draws on official Australian Government publications. Details of the negotiating agenda will change as the Pre-COP and COP31 approach.