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A stand-off over the fitting to host the 2026 UN climate talks has forged a cloud over the close of the COP29 summit in Baku.

Australia and Turkey have spent practically two years bidding to carry the COP31 convention due in 2026, By conference, a resolution could be made by the close of the Baku summit, which is because of wind up late on Friday.

However, regardless of intense diplomatic jockeying, there was no resolution in sight on Friday afternoon.

An individual close to Turkey’s delegation in Baku stated that talks had been “ongoing” and won’t be resolved till nations met again in Bonn subsequent 12 months on the UN climate change headquarters. “It’s not important to get a decision [during] this COP,” they stated.

Nations take it in turns to host the annual UN talks, and it’s up to a group of 29 principally western European nations to decide on the 2026 host. The 2025 summit might be held in Belém, Brazil, a resolution made final 12 months to present the organisers two years to organise the gathering of virtually 200 nations.

“Clarity would be good for everyone involved,” Australia’s climate minister and COP29 lead negotiator, Chris Bowen, stated this week.

“Out of the 29 COPs, six have been held in the southern hemisphere; 23 in the northern hemisphere. It’s time.”

The row has raised issues about a repeat of the protracted battle that finally led much less than a 12 months in the past to the last-minute selection of Azerbaijan as host nation for COP29.

This adopted Russian opposition to EU contenders following the struggle on Ukraine, and peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

Australia has the backing of more than 20 members of the decision-making group, in accordance with people close to the method, together with the US, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, Israel and New Zealand.

However the resolution should be made by consensus, that means even a large majority doesn’t guarantee success.

Australia’s pitch for a “Pacific COP” has acquired sturdy help from the area. Palau president Surangel Whipps advised the Baku assembly he hoped the Pacific wouldn’t be denied “this rare opportunity to help host what is the most important international forum for our future”. 

New Zealand climate minister Simon Watts stated a Pacific assembly would give nations there a probability for instance the results of world warming on weak communities. “The Pacific are at the front lines, at the ground zero of the impacts of climate change,” he stated.

Turkey has not budged regardless of in depth diplomatic efforts. Bowen visited Ankara en path to Baku in an attempt to interrupt the deadlock in time for Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, to seal a deal with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on the G20 talks in Brazil final week.

However after the assembly, Turkey stated it was decided to host COP31 and had an “ability to create a link between developed and developing countries”.

Bowen has additionally had a number of conversations along with his Turkish ministerial counterparts since August 2023 to attempt to resolve the stand-off.

Sources from EU and south Asian nations stated Turkey and Australia must come to an settlement between them about who would give means.

Canberra is known to have supplied Ankara the possibility to guide talks on resilience on the COP31 talks if Australia hosts. Turkey suffered devastating earthquakes in February 2023 that killed more than 50,000 people.

Nonetheless, Turkey has neither accepted that offer nor put every other strategies to Australia, these close to the matter say.

Turkish media have questioned whether or not Australia’s position as a main fossil fuel exporter makes it an unsuitable host nation. Bowen advised reporters in Baku he was not going to touch upon Turkey’s fossil fuel use.

“I’m very respectful of their right to bid. But we also have a story to tell about our transition and our ambition to be a renewable energy superpower,” he stated.

Extra reporting by Attracta Mooney