On Monday night in Belem, Brazil, the mood among the Australian contingent at the United Nations climate talks was high.

Earlier in the day, Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen had appeared at an event and talked up the Australian bid to host next year’s talks, COP31, in Adelaide. Turkey was also fiercely bidding for the rights.

“Let me make it clear – we’re not going anywhere,” Bowen had said. “It’s the fight we’ve got to have because it is very much in Australia’s interests, and I believe in the world’s interest, having Australia as the president of COP31.”

That night, he held drinks for Australian diplomats, civil society and business delegations. Normally, this is done off-site, but options were limited in the Amazonian city, so this year it was held in the Australian pav

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