Tclimate conference Cop30 held has finally come to an endas Australia lost the main prize of hosting next year's meeting. But Australia official partnership agreement with Turkey however, it represents an opportunity to deliver unprecedented global impact and accelerate our own transformation to a net zero, green export economy. Here are three ways to do it.
Firstly, Chris Bowen's new role as Cop31's “president of negotiations” puts the climate and energy minister at the helm of the world's most complex and consequential multilateral process.
This process easily and often criticized as a triumph of incrementalismHowever, it is in the negotiating texts that the geopolitical rubber hits the road, recording important statements of political will and a set of international commitments that stimulate global consensus.
Bowen's new and somewhat unprecedented role positions him as a curator and guardian of the language, poised to become the new zeitgeist guiding the actions of both government and business. The global goal of tripling the use of renewable energy and doubling energy efficiency now guides global efforts. One idea is for Bowen to consider proposing an electrification goal to achieve these goals, supporting efforts in an area that is currently lagging.
Second, and most important in government announcements in recent weeks, is the implementation of the much-vaunted “Pacific Partnership”. Bowen spoke of his motivation to ensure that the Pacific's voice is heard internationally and that the region's priorities are fully reflected in next year's discussions – a high standard.
In this sense, Bowen's deal with Turkey provides a commitment to an annual exploratory meeting in the Pacific. While this would typically be a relatively small event for senior officials, Australia is predicting a much greater commitment to the participation of world leaders and ministers, hopefully with a major focus on a plan to make the Pacific the world's first 100% renewable energy region, full capitalization of the Pacific Resilience Fund, and innovative solutions to integrate ocean and climate conservation efforts.
But the Pacific Pre-COP should also serve as a preparatory stepping stone, or rather an ambitious springboard, to set the parameters and expectations for an ambitious project. KS31.
Notably, in Belém, Australia joined a number of Pacific Islanders, Latin Americans and a small number of Europeans at the last minute to push for a new declaration on a just transition away from fossil fuels, by far the strongest statement Australia has ever made on the issue.
At some level, this statement simply reflects the reality that we need to achieve deep, rapid and sustainable reductions in global emissions to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 or sooner if we are to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement (once again highlighting the inconsistency built into the Coalition's new policy stance). Broader efforts to secure a more formal and universal timetable and trajectory for the transition away from fossil fuels ultimately failed in Belém, but these calls will only grow louder. We need to tackle our addiction now and quickly decarbonise not only our national electricity market, but also our balance of trade.
Third, while Bowen's role won't technically begin until Cop31 opens next November, it will actually begin next week. Friday's detailed agreement with Turkey commits it to an extensive process of consultation, preparation and communications to shape the contours and give impetus to the outcome of the Antalya talks.
But it's not just about agreed upon results. It will have new and unprecedented high-level contacts, networks, platforms and other opportunities to highlight Australia's climate leadership and energy transition, in partnership with a number of thematic 'champions' that we will jointly appoint, and will help us take our national efforts to the next level.
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We should strive to turn our new green steel dialogue with China into a final investment decision for the first green steel pilot plant, and begin to build our new value-added green steel export industry. And we should aim to use every visit by a world leader to Australia over the next year to secure a series of major and profitable climate-related or green industry investments to help inject real world momentum and energy into the negotiation process that Bowen is now overseeing.
Through this lens, and in parallel with Cop31's diplomatic preparations, Australia should consider what it can do to bring the “world's largest green trade fair” component of Cop to Adelaide, a previous candidate for Australia's Cop31. This will require some creativity, but it is exactly the launching pad we need to attract international interest, technology and investment to fully realize our new green industrial policy, 'Future Made in Australia'. An undertaking like this is unlikely to cost us a penny, but will instead provide a significant return on investment through new economic opportunities, jobs and exports.
Diplomacy rarely produces black and white results. There is no sugarcoating the fact that, given the overwhelming support for our bid and the depth of Government policy preparation, Australia deserves the chance to deliver Cop31 in partnership with the Pacific. But we are where we are. The most important thing now is to ensure that our role as Cop31 delivers tangible benefits to the Australian people, our businesses and the Pacific region.
Tom Woodroof is a senior international fellow at the Smart Energy Council and a former climate diplomat.
