Dr Wesley Morgan1, Professor Elizabeth Thurbon2, Dr George Carter3, Professor Robyn Eckersley4, Professor Matt McDonald5, Professor Susan Harris-Rimmer6
1UNSW Institute for Climate Risk & Response, Sydney, Australia, 2UNSW School of Social Sciences, Sydney, Australia, 3ANU Department of Pacific Affairs, Canberra, Australia, 4Melbourne University, School of Social and Political Sciences, Melbourne, Australia, 5University of Queensland, School of Political Science and International Studies, Brisbane, Australia, 6Griffith Law School, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Wesley Morgan is a Research Associate with the Institute for Climate Risk & Response at UNSW Sydney. He is co-editor of 'Climate Politics in Oceania: Renewing Australia-Pacific Relations in a Warming World' (2024)
Elizabeth Thurbon is Deputy Head of School (Research) and Professor of International Political Economy in the School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Design and Architecture (ADA) at UNSW Sydney. She is currently leading the Green Energy Statecraft Project.
George Carter is Senior Fellow and Deputy Head of the Department of Pacific Affairs at The Australian National University (ANU). He is also the Director for the ANU Pacific Institute. He is a member of the COP29 Scientific Council and is researching Pacific engagement with COP31. George holds the chiefly title of Salā in Samoa’s matai system.
Robyn Eckersley is Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor in the Discipline of Political Science, School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne and a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. She is author of 'The Green State: Rethinking Democracy and Sovereignty' (2004).
Matt McDonald is Professor of International Relations at the University of Queensland. He leads a cross-disciplinary research network on Climate Politics and Policy and is author of 'Ecological security: climate change and the construction of security' (2021)
Susan Harris Rimmer focuses on international human rights law, climate justice and gender equality in the Griffith Law School and is a member of the Law Futures Centre. She leads the Climate Justice theme of the Griffith Climate Action Beacon. In 2024 Susan led an independent review of Queensland's Human Rights Act.
Abstract:
Australia aims to host the COP31 UN climate talks in partnership with Pacific Island nations in 2026. This would be the largest diplomatic summit the country has ever held, with satellite events planned in the Pacific. The summit will be held at a crucial moment for global efforts to address the climate crisis. To keep the goals of the Paris Agreement alive nations will need to accelerate the shift toward clean energy and away from coal, oil, and gas. As a major energy and commodities exporter, Australia has a key role to play in the global transition.
This roundtable considers the implications of COP31 for Australian climate policy and statecraft. In a world rapidly shifting from fossil fuels to clean energy, Australia’s relations with trading partners in Asia are changing profoundly. Hosting COP31 is a chance to showcase Australia’s green industry plans and grow new markets for clean energy exports. Partnering with Pacific Island nations is also an opportunity to celebrate the climate leadership of Pacific countries and strengthen Australia’s place in the region during a time of growing strategic rivalry.
But playing host to the world also comes with expectations. Ambitious middle-power diplomacy is needed to deliver a successful summit and revive faith in the UN climate talks at a time when multilateral cooperation is under strain. Australia will be expected to implement policies to cut emissions and speed up the transition away from fossil fuels. This roundtable considers the opportunities, and challenges, of hosting the UN climate talks.