Analysis-Australia's green energy push, Pacific ties face setback from COP31 impasse

By Peter Hobson and Valerie Volcovici

CANBERRA/BELEM, Brazil (Reuters) – Australia risks undermining efforts to establish itself as a leader in the green energy transition and letting down its vulnerable Pacific island neighbours if its bid to host next year’s biggest climate summit fails, diplomats and analysts say.

Australia was long considered the front-runner to hold the COP31 conference, aiming to bolster its ambitions to become “a renewable energy superpower” and highlight issues faced by Pacific island nations which it plans to co-host the conference with.

However, Turkey doubled down on a rival bid, saying it wants a summit that more directly tackles financing for developing countries’ climate efforts while showcasing its own progress toward a 2053 net-zero emissions target. Tha