Albanese's bid to host COP31 invites scrutiny on Australia's climate policies
While Albanese's trips to the US and China may have received more media coverage, his stay in the Cook Islands is proving more pivotal to getting real outcomes for Australia.
In the lead-up to last year’s election, Labor announced its intention to host a United Nations climate conference if elected. It was the one foreign policy initiative that set it apart from the Coalition, and fit neatly with its pitch to do more to combat climate change.
The annual Conference of the Parties - known as COP - has been central to collective action on climate, most notably with the 1995 Kyoto Protocol and the 2015 Paris Accord.
But since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has formalised his push to co-host the COP31 conference in 2026 alongside Pacific island nations, Australia’s actions - particularly its approval of new coal mines - have been receiving renewed scrutiny.
While the Albanese government has upped Australia’s 2030 target to 43% reduction from 2005 levels, many Pacific Island nations have been calling on the country to take stronger action heading into this week’s Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands.
