Addis Ababa set for 2027 climate summit as countries at COP30 reach consensus; Australia, Turkey still in race for COP31 hosting rights…
Countries participating in the ongoing COP30 climate conference in Brazil have agreed that Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, will host the COP32 summit in 2027, edging out Nigeria, which had also sought the hosting rights.
According to a report by Reuters, the announcement came on Monday, with the official confirmation expected on Tuesday, following statements from this year’s COP30 President, André Corrêa do Lago.
The decision marks a significant win for Ethiopia, which formally launched its bid in September. Sources quoted by Reuters said the Bureau of African Countries reached a unanimous decision to back Addis Ababa’s candidacy, effectively sidelining Nigeria’s proposal.
Unresolved Battle Over COP31 Host
While COP32’s host has now been settled, the venue for COP31 in 2026 remains undecided. Australia and Turkey are still competing for the slot, with both nations having refused to step down.
Australia’s bid is being made in partnership with the Pacific Island nations, many of which are among the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions. Diplomats expect a final decision to be adopted on Tuesday, though discussions have dragged on for months.
A delegate from an industrialised country told Reuters they did not foresee any major obstacle to confirming the host choice once an agreement is reached.
COP Rotation and Next Steps
Under the UN’s rotation policy, COP summits are hosted by countries within alternating regional blocs. This year’s COP30 is being held in the Amazonian city of Belém, Brazil.
For the “Western Europe and Others” regional group, which is responsible for next year’s COP31, the impasse between Turkey and Australia has caused prolonged delays.
COP30 President Corrêa do Lago urged members of the group on Monday to resolve their standoff quickly. He noted that if the disagreement persists, the UN climate secretariat’s headquarters in Bonn, Germany, could serve as the default host venue for the 2026 conference.
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