Australian energy minister to push for hosting COP31 at Brazil climate summit

Australia's Energy Minister Chris Bowen said he would travel on Saturday to the COP30 climate summit in Brazil to push for Australia to host next year's summit, amid a stand-off with rival bidder Turkey.



Australia and Turkey submitted bids in 2022 to host the United Nations climate conference and both countries have refused to concede to the other ever since.



Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese this month wrote to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in an attempt to resolve the long-running tussle.



Bowen said a decision on the issue would be made at COP30 and asserted that "Australia has the overwhelming support of the world to host" next year's conference, according to an official transcript of remarks to reporters at Sydney Airport.



In a statement, Bowen said he would advocate strongly for Australia and highlight its clean energy industry at the summit in the Amazon city of Belem.