South Australia, climate advocates and the Pacific have united in their disappointment after Australia's failure to secure the 2026 UN climate conference.

Anthony Albanese's government spent three years campaigning to bring COP31 to Adelaide, only to admit defeat on Thursday and compromise with rival Turkey.

Climate Minister Chris Bowen will be the lead global negotiator for the year up to the conference, but the summit itself will be held in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.

SA Premier Peter Malinauskas had lauded the summit as an "incredible opportunity for South Australia on so many fronts" worth an estimated $511.6 million to his state.

On Thursday, he said he understood the government's move given the "frankly obscene" decision-making process.

"Its very clear that the res

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