With the Federal Government working to bring the United Nations climate change conference, COP31, to Australia in 2026, the SA Government wants to see the event held in Adelaide.
The conference would see more than 30,000 people from 197 countries meet at Adelaide Convention Centre, injecting an estimated $511.6 million into the economy.
After a recommendation from SA Business Chamber, the state government completed a feasibility study into hosting the event last year.
“Our leadership in renewables and track record in running flagship global events, sees us well placed to make a compelling bid,” said SA Business Chamber chief executive Andrew Kay.
“Hosting the COP would…boost the economy and further cement our credentials as a world leader in renewable energy, enhancing Adelaide and South Australia’s global image.”
The government has undertaken further, more in-depth analysis and assessments of Adelaide’s capacity to pull off the event, including ensuring the city has the accommodation inventory to host and looking at the security of venues, accommodation and transport.
“This conference would attract tens of thousands of people and hundreds of millions of dollars into our state, as well as providing an incredible opportunity to market our state to investors across the world,” said South Australia’s premier, Peter Malinauskas.
“South Australia is already a world leader in renewable energy and decarbonisation and hosting COP31 would firmly put our state on the global map.”
South Australia already derives 75 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, with a target of getting to net 100 per cent by 2027.
COP31 will take place in November 2026, making this a reasonably short event led time of an event of this size and complexity – should South Australia’s bid be successful – given many much smaller association conferences are delivered on twice the lead time.
