Episode 'A' for Antalya - Navigating COP31 with Minister Chris Bowen, COP31 President of Negotiations

With COP31 heading to Antalya, Jack and Heidi sit down with Chris Bowen, Australia’s COP31 President of Negotiations and Minister for Climate Change and Energy, to talk about what this unusual co-hosted COP could mean for global climate action.

In this episode:

• A new model for collaboration: Bowen reflects on the compromise that led to Australia and Türkiye to build COP31 together and why he sees it as “potentially a good model going forward.”
• Elevating Pacific voices: After the recent Pacific pre-COP meeting, Bowen discusses the existential threat facing small island states and the gap in climate finance. Only 0.2% of available climate finance goes to small island developing states for adaptation.
• A COP of implementation: Bowen argues COP31 needs to focus on implementation and acceleration, and shares a recent Australian initiative to electrify industry that he believes other nations could learn from.
• Energy and climate in one portfolio: Bowen explains why holding both roles gives him a practical view on driving emissions reduction in the energy sector, even during a global energy crisis.
• Ambition meets diplomacy: The conversation explores the balance between ambitious climate goals and the realities of international negotiations, and why COP31 is a pivotal moment for turning commitments into action.

Follow COP31 (9-20 November 2026, Antalya, Türkiye)

The Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion and the Australian Pavilion are the main hubs for Pacific climate leadership, partnership and negotiations at COP31. The Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion is managed by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in partnership with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.

• COP31 Australian Pavilion: https://www.cop31-pacific.com/australian-pavilion
• Livestream: events at the Australian Pavilion will be streamed on the DCCEEW YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@DCCEEW)
• Photos: official images from the Australian Pavilion are on Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/people/201791893@N02/)

Bula COP31 follows the COP31 negotiations through a Pacific lens. New episodes every fortnight.

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