COP31: Australia, don't be a blocker!

Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has just arrived in Antalya, Türkiye, for the UN climate talks, COP31. He is only here for a short time, and what he does with it matters.

Yesterday, countries from every corner of the world, joined by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, called on COP31's leaders to back a plan to move off coal, oil and gas. Türkiye, which is hosting the summit, said it would consider it. Australia, which is running the negotiations, has offered no way forward.

A presidency that holds the pen

This year, Australia holds a unique role. While Türkiye hosts COP31, Australia leads the negotiations, which means it has real power to shape what countries agree to before they leave Antalya.

That power comes with responsibility. The world has already agreed, at COP28 in Dubai, to transition away from fossil fuels. Last year in Brazil, momentum grew behind a roadmap to turn that promise into action. Now, at the moment that roadmap needs a champion, Australia is staying silent.

It is not hard to see why. Australia remains one of the world's biggest exporters of coal and gas, and its government keeps approving new fossil fuel projects at home. Leading a global plan to move off fossil fuels would mean facing up to that.

Keep the Pacific promise

Australia secured its role at COP31 on the promise of a "Pacific COP". It pledged to bring the voices of Pacific nations, who face rising seas and stronger storms they did nothing to cause, to the centre of the talks.

First Nations communities across Australia and Pacific Island communities live with the consequences of fossil fuel expansion every day. They are also leading the way to something better, from community renewables to calls for a fossil-free Pacific. Turning away from a plan to end fossil fuels now would mean turning away from the very people Australia promised to stand with.

An open letter to the Prime Minister

Te Raukura O'Connell Rapira, CEO of 350 Australia, has written an urgent open letter to Prime Minister Albanese, calling on him to show real leadership at the negotiations this week. The letter asks him to make three things happen at COP31:

• Lead the world off fossil fuels. Back a clear global process to move off coal, oil and gas, set a date to end coal, and adopt a national plan to move off fossil fuels fairly.
• Make it renewable. Electrify homes and industry with renewable energy that reaches the people who need it most.
• Pay Australia's share. Commit enough finance so developing countries can adapt to climate change, switch to renewables and end fossil fuel subsidies.

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