By Abbas Nazil
Papua New Guinea has expressed strong disappointment after Australia abandoned its bid to co-host next year’s UN climate summit, COP31, with Pacific island nations.
Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko told Agence France-Presse that the outcome was frustrating and disappointing, adding that the decision undermined hopes for greater regional visibility in global climate discussions.
Australia had proposed hosting COP31 alongside South Pacific nations, which are among the most vulnerable to rising seas and climate-driven disasters, aiming to spotlight their urgent climate challenges.
However, Turkey, another prospective host, refused to yield, prompting Australia to withdraw from the hosting competition.
Under a compromise, Turkey will host COP31 while Australia will take on a leading role in negotiations among governments, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Papua New Guinea’s leadership criticised the COP process broadly, describing it as ineffective and a forum where major polluters evade accountability.
Pacific island leaders have long highlighted that their voices are marginalised in COP summits and that practical solutions are limited, despite their escalating climate vulnerabilities and mounting adaptation costs.
The prospect of co-hosting was seen as a way to amplify Pacific concerns and draw global attention to rising sea levels and disaster risks, but the hosting decision dashed these hopes.
Australia’s withdrawal also avoided intense scrutiny of its environmental record, which includes heavy reliance on fossil fuel exports and a domestic climate policy often treated as politically and economically contentious.
Former Prime Minister of Tuvalu, Bikenibeu Paeniu, condemned the decision, calling it evidence of Australia’s non-commitment to climate justice, and stressed that the Pacific region must reassess its relationship with Australia.
Despite missing the hosting opportunity, Pacific nations plan to continue advocating for climate action and ensuring their urgent challenges remain part of international discussions, as rising seas threaten livelihoods and homes across the region.
