Turkey to Host Next Climate summit After Contentious Negotiation
BELÉM, BRAZIL – Turkey will host the next United Nations climate summit, resolving a prolonged deadlock with Australia over the organization of the annual event. The agreement,reached during the current summit in Brazil,sees Turkey securing both the hosting role in Antalya and the influential chairmanship,while Australia will lead the negotiations leading up to the summit and host a preparatory meeting focused on island nations.
The decision ends a period of uncertainty stemming from the lack of formal procedures for appointing a summit host. Both Australia and Turkey had steadfastly refused to withdraw their bids, leaving organizers unsure of the next venue even as the current summit in Brazil progresses.
Australian Prime Minister Albanese expressed optimism, stating, “What we have now come up with is a victory for both Turkey and Australia.” However, his Minister of Climate Change and Energy acknowledged a degree of compromise, noting, “It would have been nice if Australia could have had it all, but that’s just not possible. It was crucial that we reach an agreement.”
Had the two countries failed to reach a consensus, the hosting duty would have automatically fallen to Bonn, Germany, home to the UN Climate Secretariat (UNFCCC). Germany had previously indicated a lack of interest in undertaking the logistical challenges of hosting the large-scale event.
In a separate proclamation at the Brazil summit, Nigeria withdrew its bid to host the 2027 climate summit in favor of Ethiopia, confirming addis Ababa as the host city for that year.
