Turkey will host the Cop31 climate conference after the Australian government dropped its push to hold the event in Adelaide at the last moment – despite having invested in a more than three-year campaign.

Independent sources confirmed to the Guardian that the fortnight-long event would be held in Turkey’s Mediterranean resort city of Antalya in November 2026.

The details of a deal were thrashed out between the countries’ climate ministers, Chris Bowen and Murat Kurum, at the Cop30 conference in Brazil this week.

Sources said Australia had proposed an arrangement under which it would take on the Cop presidency and lead the negotiations, in return for backing down on the hosting venue.

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The agreement was also expected to include a separate leaders’ meet

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