The COP31 climate meeting is now expected to be held in Turkey after Australia dropped its bid to host the annual event, BBC reported.

Under the UN rules, the right to host the COP in 2026 falls to a group of countries made up of Western Europe, Australia and others.

A consensus must be reached but neither country had been willing to concede. Australia has now agreed to support the Turkish bid in return for their minister chairing the talks following negotiations at COP30, currently being held in Brazil, according to BBC.