Race to host next year's Cop heats up as Brazil urges focus on action over ambition

Australia and Turkey intensify bids to host 31st climate conference

The Brazilian city of Belem will host the Cop climate conference in November. EPA

As the race to host Cop31 intensifies – with Australia and Turkey emerging as leading contenders – this year's host, Brazil, is calling for the focus to shift from pledges to implementation.

Cop30 will be held in Belem in November but leading climate figures have raised concerns about what can be achieved amid an underwhelming build-up, with many members yet to submit their updated climate action plans.

Brazil's President-Designate for Cop30, Andre Correa do Lago, said the summit, being hosted in the country's Amazon region, will prioritise an “intensified action agenda” focused on real-world implementation.

On Wednesday, the Australian government announced that it is committed to its bid to host Cop31 “in partnership with the Pacific in 2026". Meanwhile, Turkish officials are also making their intentions known with the seaside city of Antalya touted as a likely venue.

Speaking at a London Climate Action Week, Mr Correa do Lago warned that the world needs to find a new way of “incorporating the climate agenda in these times of crisis, because we are basically always in times of crisis”.

Prince William meets members of a roundtable called Nature's Guardians: On the Road to Cop30 and Beyond, at St James's Palace, London. PA Wire

Time for implementation

“We believe that the climate urgency should inspire all to do whatever they can in their area and have an impact on this fight,” he added.

The Global Ethical Stocktake, a Brazilian initiative, is designed to hold governments and non-state actors accountable for climate justice, equity and emission cuts.

Mr Correa do Lago said Cop30's goals are not to rewrite what was agreed in Paris or Dubai. “Many people want to reiterate what was decided two years ago. Let's not reiterate. Let's implement it,” he said.

He said showcasing economic benefits is vital, citing falling solar costs in China enabling clean energy projects in Africa, and Brazil’s opportunity to “leapfrog” carbon-intensive development pathways by leveraging its many renewable energy resources.

Finance on the front lines

The importance of finance in tackling the climate crisis was echoed on Thursday in Abu Dhabi, where the UAE Central Bank convened leading financial policymakers at its Climate Finance Forum.

Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama warned that climate risks pose “macro-financial challenges” to economies and institutions. “The widespread flooding we witnessed in the UAE last year was the heaviest in 75 years,” he said.

The UAE’s green finance strategy focuses on “people, policies and processes”, including the rollout of Shariah-compliant climate tools, climate stress testing, and embedding sustainability into financial supervision.

Dr Amna Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, described the country’s net-zero approach as “pro-growth and pro-climate,” noting that oil and gas represent less than 30 per cent of the economy – down from 80 per cent a decade ago. “We’re directing climate finance to drive green opportunities at home and abroad,” she said.

The private sector, too, is transforming. Abdulaziz Al Ghurair, Chair of the UAE Banks Federation, called the current moment “transformational”.

“Finance is no longer just about capital flow and return. It is about responsibility and resilience, and most importantly, it is about reimagining the future,” he said.