Australia’s climate minister is about to walk a diplomatic tightrope at COP31
Australia's Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen faces a complex diplomatic challenge as he prepares to co-host the COP31 climate summit in Turkey. He must balance Australia's role as a major fossil fuel exporter with its commitments to Pacific nations vulnerable to climate change.
Why it matters
The summit highlights the tension between national economic interests in fossil fuels and global climate leadership responsibilities.
Saeed Khan/Getty Australia’s climate minister is about to walk a diplomatic tightrope at COP31 Published: November 8, 2026 6.44pm GMT https://theconversation.com/australias-climate-minister-is-about-to-walk-a-diplomatic-tightrope-at-cop31-294565 https://theconversation.com/australias-climate-minister-is-about-to-walk-a-diplomatic-tightrope-at-cop31-294565 Link copied Share article Share article
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Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, is about to embark on his most significant diplomatic challenge. For the next two weeks, Bowen takes on the role of “president of negotiations” at the United Nations climate summit , COP31, in Turkey, also called Türkiye.
Bowen is regarded as a strong negotiator, held in high esteem by close observers of the COP process. As well as legislating Australia’s emissions targets, Bowen had policy wins on vehicle emissions standards and renewable energy funding .
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