Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is scheduled to meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this month. The meeting aims to address the ongoing dispute over which country will host the COP31 climate summit in 2026. Australia and Türkiye have been in a prolonged standoff regarding the hosting rights for this significant event, known as the 31st Conference of the Parties.

The COP31 summit is expected to attract over 20,000 delegates and will be hosted by a member of the UN regional group known as "Western Europe and Others States." This group includes 28 countries, such as Australia, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. Australia claims to have the backing of 23 of these members for its proposal to co-host the summit with Pacific Island nations. However, Türkiye has not yet withdrawn its bid.

Albanese's meeting with Erdogan is set to take place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, which begins in just over two weeks. The goal of this discussion is to resolve the hosting rights dispute. In July, UN climate chief Simon Stiell emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, "The delay in making that decision is unhelpful to the process," during a clean energy event in Sydney.

Australia is eager to host COP31 in Adelaide in November 2026. The government plans to use the summit as a platform to highlight its clean energy transition and its potential as a supplier of green metals and hydrogen. However, the prolonged decision-making process has raised concerns about the preparations for the event.

Before heading to the UN General Assembly, the Australian federal government is expected to announce its emissions target for 2035. This updated target will be informed by recommendations from the Climate Change Authority, which has been consulting on a potential reduction of emissions by 65% to 75% below 2005 levels.