COP31 Planning: Presidency Meets

COP31 President-designate, Murat Kurum, has again met with the Australian Minister of Climate Change and Energy, Hon Chris Bowen, to discuss plans for a successful hosting of COP31. The meeting is part of a deliberate diplomatic push to get the Türkiye–Australia COP31 arrangement working.

Recall that COP31 Presidency is jointly held by Turkiye and Australia. Türkiye will host the summit in Antalya and lead the Climate Action Agenda, while Australia has been given responsibility for the formal negotiations, an arrangement agreed at COP30 after Australia dropped its bid to host the summit.

Türkiye is positioning COP31 as an “implementation COP”, with it’s Action Agenda including clean-energy transition, electrification, zero waste, climate-resilient cities, oceans, youth and education, food security and green industrialization, While Australia, has put considerable emphasis on energy transition, electrification and the interests of Pacific island states.

Earlier in June, countries failed to reach agreement on several important issues at Bonn, including aspects of the Mitigation Work Programme, Global Goal on Adaptation, Just Transition Work Programme and other agenda items. Climate finance also remained highly contentious, with developing countries pressing developed countries for stronger financial support.

The task ahead for Kurum and Bowen is to build consensus before COP31 in Antalya, and not simply organise the conference.