State Secretary Flasbarth in Australia in the run-up to COP31
Amid rising geopolitical tensions, growing economic uncertainty and the worsening energy crisis, international climate policy continues to gain importance. Given these challenges, Germany is stepping up its cooperation with key partners: State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth has travelled to Australia to advance preparations for the upcoming international climate negotiations at this year’s UN Climate Change Conference, COP31. His trip will focus on discussions with Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, other government officials and key figures from industry and civil society. One priority will be to engage with the Pacific island nations, which are already facing existential threats from the impacts of the climate crisis.
German State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth commented: "Global crises drive home the fact that climate action is not a peripheral issue, but vital for stability, security and economic resilience. We share a common purpose with Australia: to advance international climate policy both effectively and equitably. In this context, it will be particularly important to focus on the most vulnerable nations such as the Pacific island states."
This year’s negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference will showcase a new form of international cooperation: for the first time, the climate conference is being organised under a joint presidency. Türkiye will host COP31 in November 2026, while Australia is taking the lead in the negotiations and, together with the Pacific nations, will organise the pre-COP.
One of the highlights of the trip will be the meeting with COP31 President Chris Bowen. The aim is to prepare for the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, to be held in Berlin on 21 and 22 April 2026, and set the stage for successful negotiations at COP31. Discussions will also be centred on national climate targets under the UNFCCC. Both the EU and Australia have submitted ambitious commitments to lower emissions by 2035.
The visit will also highlight the growing economic dimension of climate policy. Much like its European counterparts, Australia’s heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels means that global supply chain disruptions are being acutely felt domestically. This situation underscores the strategic importance of the energy transition for achieving greater independence and security of supply.
In this context, new opportunities are arising for German companies, particularly in the green tech sector. These include, for example, the expansion of recycling capacities for solar modules – a market with considerable growth potential.
At the same time, there is growing public pressure in Australia for an accelerated transition: there has been a sharp rise in demand for electric vehicles, as well as an ongoing boom in rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems.
The German-Australian Climate Partnership thus serves as an important framework for working together to transition away from fossil fuel imports towards a resilient, climate-neutral energy supply.