Australia and Turkey criticised for hosting UN climate conference while embracing coal

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Published: 2026-10-04T14:22:47.149Z • Permanent link

Criticism has been leveled at the hosts of the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which will take place in Australia and Turkey. The conference, scheduled to begin in November 2024, has been criticized for its location, given that both countries are major consumers of coal. Global campaign group 350.org has called on the conference hosts to announce a coal phase-out date and to develop national roadmaps to transition away from fossil fuels.

Australia, the host country, is the world's second-largest coal exporter, and its coal industry is a significant contributor to the country's economy. The country's government has been accused of dragging its feet on climate action, despite being one of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases. In contrast, Turkey is a major consumer of coal, with a significant portion of its electricity generation coming from coal-fired power plants. The country's government has also been criticized for its lack of action on climate change, despite its own commitments under the Paris Agreement.

The criticism of the conference hosts has been echoed by climate activists around the world, who argue that the conference should focus on concrete action to address the climate crisis, rather than just discussing it. The conference will feature a range of countries, including some of the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, as well as developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

The criticism of the conference hosts has significant implications for the global infrastructure sector, which is heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Companies such as ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, and BP are major players in the global energy market, and their interests are likely to be affected by the conference's outcome. Research communities, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), will also be watching the conference closely, as it will have implications for the development of new climate models and the assessment of the impacts of climate change.

The conference's outcome will also have significant implications for markets, including the oil and gas markets. A failure to take concrete action on climate change will likely lead to increased volatility in these markets, as investors become increasingly risk-averse. Policymakers will also be watching the conference closely, as it will provide a critical test of their commitment to addressing the climate crisis.

The criticism of the conference hosts is part of a larger pattern of inaction on climate change, which has been evident in recent years. The Paris Agreement, which was signed by nearly 200 countries in 2015, has been criticized for its lack of ambition, and the conference's outcome will likely be seen as a test of the agreement's effectiveness. In contrast, countries such as Norway and Sweden have made significant commitments to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions, and their experiences may provide a useful model for other countries.