Andrew Forrest has dismissed criticism of the cost of hosting COP climate talks in Australia next year as “puerile”, saying the event would put Australia at the focal point of the “historical battle for economic supremacy” between old and new energy technologies.

Speaking from Rio where he is one of only a handful of private sector figures invited to attend a meeting of world leaders preceding the COP climate talks, Forrest said next year’s meeting, which Australia is in competition to host with Turkey, would be a turning point for the world.

Pressure within the United Nations is mounting on Australia and Turkey to resolve the impasse over hosting rights for the event, which are ideally conferred upon host nations two years or more before the talks, a senior Australian government source

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