.png)
Bula COP31!
Bula COP31 is a podcast for anyone wanting to understand what it means for Australia and the Türkiye to co-host COP31 in 2026, and why this moment is influential in the UNFCCC process. Australia will be putting the Pacific Islands at the forefront of the climate negotiations to ensure adaptation and infrastructure investments flow to the region.
Your hosts are Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan.
Jack is a proud boomer who started his sustainability career long before it was considered ‘cool’. His experience spans the earliest COPs and reaches across business, industry, government, development agencies, NGOs, and the UN. He’s worked with the International Chamber of Commerce and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development; and across Asia-Pacific with the Pacific Region Infrastructure Facility, Asian Development Bank, and World Bank. Jack was nominated by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the design team that established the IRIS initiative, supporting climate- and disaster-resilient infrastructure in Small Island Developing States — work that sits at the heart of Pacific climate priorities.
Heidi Dumesich is a millennial environmental scientist focused on implementing practical solutions. She’s the seasoned podcaster behind Life on Planet A, and currently a Sustainability Manager at Ventia, leading an Infrastructure Sustainability Council rating for a major road project. Heidi brings a fresh, grounded perspective on climate action and how sustainability plays out across communities and sectors.
Bula COP31 explores what really happens behind the scenes of a COP — with a special focus on how Pacific leadership, values, and voices shape the global climate agenda. Through candid conversations with stakeholders across Pacific governments, Australian agencies, industry, civil society, youth, and community groups, we unpack how climate diplomacy in our region is driven by relationships, resilience, and shared responsibility.
Whether you're a policymaker, business leader, activist, Pacific climate champion, or simply COP-curious, this podcast is your guide to getting the most out of COP31 — and understanding how it can deliver for the Blue Pacific Continent.
Tune in, get engaged, and say Bula COP31!
Bula COP31!
Episode 'B' for Brisbane: G'day Michael Kelly
In this episode of G'day COP31, we say a warm hello to Michael Kelly from the World Liquid Gas Association (WLGA) – the global voice for LPG producers like butane and propane.
Michael gives us the lowdown on what WLGA does and why it shows up at COPs (spoiler: it’s not just about lobbying). We dig into how LPG plays a role in clean cooking, off-grid power, and energy access in the developing world – and yes, even your Aussie barbeque.
We also unpack the Australian Government’s push to host COP31 “in partnership with the Pacific” – is Adelaide the right venue? And what’s in it for our Pacific neighbours?
Plus, what do emissions from LPG look like, and how does the industry plan to stay relevant in a low-carbon world?
Finally, we ask: Will Mike be at COP31? How can Australian companies get involved? And how does the WLGA help them get a seat at the table?
Some links that can help you follow along with the COP process:
Here is the official UNFCCC link for the June UN Climate Meetings (SB62): https://unfccc.int/sb62
The schedule of events for the SB62 meetings is continuously updated, and will indicate which sessions are available for public webcast. See in particular, the Presidency-led consultation event with Parties on the Baku to Belém Roadmap, at 14h00 on 16 June. This could be when Australia or Turkey is announced as the host of COP31: https://unfccc.int/sb62/schedule?type=All
Social media access to SB62 in Bonn: https://unfccc.int/sb62/ifp#Social-media-and-photos
Article on 'What to Expect at the Bonn Climate Change Conference 2025: https://www.iisd.org/articles/explainer/what-to-expect-bonn-climate-change-conference-2025
Earth Negotiations Bulletin (go to for every detail at COP): https://enb.iisd.org/about/earth-negotiations-bulletin
https://www.instagram.com/bula_cop31/