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Australia’s unconventional Cop31 deal puts Chris Bowen at the helm of the world’s most complex negotiations. It’s a huge opportunity

8 5
23.11.2025

The Cop30 climate conference has finally come to an end, with Australia having lost out on the grand prize of hosting next year’s gathering. But Australia’s formal partnership agreement with Turkey nevertheless provides an opportunity to secure unparalleled global influence and turbocharge our own transformation to a net zero, green export economy. Here are three ways to make it happen.

First, Chris Bowen’s new role as Cop31 “president of negotiations” puts the climate and energy minister at the helm of the most complex and consequential multilateral process in the world.

The process is easily and often criticised as a triumph of incrementalism, but the negotiating texts are where the geopolitical rubber hits the road, capturing important statements of political will and a tapestry of international commitments that galvanise global consensus.

Bowen’s new and somewhat unprecedented role makes him the curator and custodian of language capable of becoming the new zeitgeist guiding government and business action alike. A global goal to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency are now benchmarks for the world’s efforts. One idea is for........

© The Guardian