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Turkey has reaffirmed its bid to host the 2026 UN climate conference, defying mounting pressure to make way for rival contender Australia, which is seeking to co-host the event with Pacific island nations.
During a UN climate meeting in Bonn, Germany, Turkish officials promoted the Mediterranean city of Antalya as a prime location for COP31, citing its experience hosting major international events such as NATO and G20 summits.
“We are ready to make COP31 accessible, functional and inspiring,” said Aysin Turpanci from Turkey’s climate change directorate. She highlighted the country’s unique geographical position straddling Europe and Asia, arguing that this made Turkey a natural bridge between developed and developing nations.
Turpanci also addressed concerns raised over the logistics of the upcoming 2025 summit in Belem, Brazil — particularly around high costs and limited accommodation. In contrast, she said Antalya offered over 600,000 hotel beds, with pricing options suitable for a broad range of attendees.
COP summits rotate annually among five regional groupings of countries. In 2026, the “Western European and Other States” group is due to host, and both Turkey and Australia have put forward formal bids. Australia’s proposal includes a partnership with Pacific island states, many of which are among the countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Australian representatives in Bonn said their government was “working very hard” to finalise support for its bid. Earlier this month, Australia’s environment minister, Murray Watt, used the UN Ocean Conference in France to emphasise the importance of holding a COP in the Pacific, describing it as a chance to spotlight the region’s unique environmental challenges.
“The Pacific deserves a COP,” Watt said. “It would draw global attention to the rising seas and worsening climate threats faced by island nations.”
Despite encouragement from Pacific leaders for Ankara to withdraw, Turkey remains steadfast.
“We reiterate our candidacy,” said Deputy Environment Minister Fatma Varank during the talks in Bonn.
Climate expert Alden Meyer of think tank E3G noted Turkey’s unusually strong push for the summit. “They are being extremely persistent,” he said. “The question is, what’s Turkey really after? It may not be about climate at all — it could be trade or political leverage.”
A final decision on the 2026 host is unlikely to be made in Bonn, Meyer added, and could instead be delayed until later this year — possibly at COP29 in Belem or shortly beforehand.
