South Australia Bids to Host COP31 Conference

An international conference in Seoul, dubbed 'Seoul Debates', focused on innovative climate change strategies aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, featuring UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner and South Korea's Second Vice Foreign Minister Kang In-sun. Steiner, during his first visit to South Korea since 2017, emphasized the potential to turn climate challenges into opportunities for sustainable change. Meanwhile, South Australia has officially announced its bid to host the COP31 climate conference in 2026, aiming to attract over 30,000 delegates and generate an estimated $511.6 million for the local economy. Premier Peter Malinauskas highlighted South Australia's leadership in renewable energy as a reason for its candidacy, stating the state has the necessary infrastructure to host the event. The decision on the host will be made at the forthcoming COP29 summit in Azerbaijan. Both events illustrate the global urgency and collaborative efforts needed to address climate change.