Australia's Chief Negotiator for COP31, Chris Bowen, is gearing up to advocate for a fossil fuel phase-out at the upcoming summit. Bowen aims to leverage his role to engage with petrostates, particularly Saudi Arabia, to foster cooperation and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels. In an interview, Bowen emphasized the need to bridge gaps with countries that have historically opposed progress, stating, 'We need to have a COP that really tries to cross some of those bridges that have been very difficult to cross in recent COPs.'
The focus on engaging with countries like Saudi Arabia, which has been accused of obstructing efforts to phase out fossil fuels, is a strategic move by Bowen. He acknowledges the importance of 'engagement, engagement, engagement' to achieve meaningful progress. This approach comes in response to calls for a 'hard-nosed' strategy in dealing with big emitters. However, Bowen faces challenges due to the Trump administration's withdrawal from the foundational international agreement to address the climate crisis, limiting his ability to influence the US through COP negotiations.
Despite this, Bowen remains optimistic about COP31, highlighting a pre-conference event in the Pacific aimed at raising global awareness about the existential threat facing small island nations. He has tasked the Pacific Islands Forum with selecting a host for this event, which will also encourage countries to contribute to the region's climate resilience fund. Bowen's priorities for 2026 include balancing international duties with managing the domestic energy transition, with a focus on cutting pollution and achieving emissions reduction targets.
In terms of domestic policies, Bowen acknowledges progress but emphasizes the need for further action. He highlights upcoming reviews of the safeguard mechanism and the national vehicle efficiency standard as opportunities to accelerate the transition. The productivity commission's recommendation to expand the safeguard mechanism to capture more polluters is also a key consideration. Bowen acknowledges the need for a balanced approach, recognizing that expanding the threshold may not always be the most effective strategy in terms of emissions reduction.
