PM backs Adelaide as climate conference host city
Adelaide would host international climate conference COP if Labor is successful at the Federal Election, the Prime Minster said today.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese today told reporters that he “can’t think of anywhere better than Adelaide” to host climate change conference COP in 2026 should Australia’s bid for the event be successful.
South Australia put its hand up to host the 2026 United Nations Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP31) last year, highlighting at the time the state’s “strong commitment to climate action and renewable energy innovation”.
The state government said hosting COP31 could yield an estimated $511.6 million in economic benefits for South Australia.
Speaking to reporters today in Adelaide, the Prime Minister said if Labor wins at the Federal Election and Australia’s bid for the conference is successful, “then my choice will be having it right here.”
“We do have the bid in. It will be determined at the climate change conference later this year, if we are re-elected,” he said.
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“We will put forward our bid to host a climate change conference and I can’t think of anywhere better than Adelaide to host that event.
“One of the things that’s happened under Premier Malinauskas is Gather Round, is just one example. But WOMADelaide, the cycling, the range of activities that occur here, and festivals – he is putting Adelaide on the map as a global city. A global city. And one of the things that a climate change conference would do is showcase this beautiful city of Adelaide to the entire world.”
He added that the state’s environmental credentials put it at the top of the pile.
“When you look at the work that the Premier is doing in renewables leading Australia, as South Australia has for a long period of time, then I can’t think of anywhere better than South Australia,” the Prime Minister said.
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“A bit like the election, we’re not getting ahead of ourselves.”
Premier Peter Malinauskas said he was “grateful for that news”.
“This place is better positioned to be able to host COP than anywhere else in the country,” he said.
“We have demonstrated that we are capable of hosting not just events, but massive events. And there is no bigger event on the planet outside of the Olympics than COP.
“For us to be able to have the opportunity to host it here in South Australia is something that we are very excited about indeed.”
In March, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said plans to host COP31 in Australia were “madness”.
“The government is planning to spend tens of billions of taxpayer dollars on hosting a COP process that will not bring down power prices and will sign a Labor government up to giving tens or hundreds of millions of dollars out to third party countries,” he said.
“It’s madness. It’s not something we are supporting – it is madness.”
The 2025 UN Climate Change Conference will convene in November 2025 in Belém, Brazil.
