A bid by Australia to co-host the 2026 UN climate conference has been met with criticism, with the country urged to improve its climate record to win support.
As the COP27 climate change summit opens in Egypt, Australia has been openly lobbying nations to support its plan to host the 2026 climate conference with Pacific nations.
Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy, who will lead Australia's delegation during the first week of talks in Egypt, says a co-hosted conference will send a powerful message.
"I think people are broadly supportive but obviously other countries in our regional bloc may have interest in it so there will be the normal sort of diplomatic rumble and tumble about it," Mr Conroy told the ABC.
"I think the symbolism of Australia, which until the election was a laggard on climate change, hosting the event with the Pacific which is on the frontline would be very powerful."
One of the most contentious discussions at the COP27 conference will be whether industrialised nations should compensate developing nations for damage caused by climate change.
Many wealthy nations have long opposed "loss and damage" negotiations and worry that they may be held culpable and financially responsible as a result.
In the pre-conference negotiations over official agenda, several developing nations pushed for discussion about loss and damage to be formally included.
The ABC has been told that Australian delegates spoke in support of allowing discussion, despite pushback from some other developed nations, although the Australian government's policy has not changed.
"Australia supported putting a discussion of loss and damage on the agenda at COP2," Mr Conroy told the ABC.
"Australia supports having constructive discussions at COP27 on loss and damage finance and is seeking to better understand the options that best serve the needs of Pacific island countries."
Climate Analytics chief executive Dr Bill Hare is in Egypt for the conference and said the issue of finance could influence whether nations support Australia's bid to co-host in 2026.
"We've seen some of the events that might be called loss and damage already this year, like the massive floods in Pakistan that left millions of people displaced," Mr Hare told the ABC.
"I think it's great to have a COP in Australia but if it doesn't really show a lot of improvement in some of the positions on finance loss and damage, then there is not going to be a lot of support for Australia hosting the COP.
"There is a lot of risk there."
US President Joe Biden is attending this year's conference in Egypt, but Mr Conroy says it is appropriate that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remains in Canberra before attending other summits.
"Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can't be everywhere at one," Mr Conroy said.
"It is important for him to be in Australia for parliament and then immediately after that he will be meeting leaders at the G20 in Bali, and then the East Asia Summit and the APEC summit.
Mr Conroy said the conference would also present an opportunity for him to strengthen relationships with Pacific leaders in attendance.
But Dr Hare told the ABC he had heard differently from some delegations in Egypt.
"In the last days I've heard much questioning about why the Australian prime minister isn't coming when Australia is interested in hosting the COP," Dr Hare said.
Brazil's new president will be attending the talks and former president of Kiribati, Anote Tong, said last week the conference would be strengthened if the Australian prime minister attended.
Calls for Australia to do more
One of the Torres Strait Islanders who prompted to the UN Human Rights Committee to rule Australia failed to adequately protect them from climate change says the government must increase its ambition.
Daniel Billy, a traditional owner of Warraber in the Torres Strait, says that if Australia is going to hold the conference in 2026 it must do more in the region.
"A lot of communities are suffering climate change and we have been neglected for so long," Mr Billy told the ABC.
"We don't have any garden crops anymore because of the heat of the sun."
In last week's budget, the federal government set aside $15.9 million dollars to build sea walls in the Torres Strait to protect against rising seas.
The funding has been welcomed by Mr Billy, but said it was a surprise to many in the region and is calling for more consultation.
He will meet with Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen in Canberra on Monday, who will represent Australia at week two of the conference in Egypt.
