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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 'F' for Fremantle: The Future of Climate Negotiations
Keywords
COP31, climate change, Turkey, Australia, carbon trading, climate finance, Pacific Islands, virtual engagement, adaptation, negotiations
Summary
In this episode of G'day COP31, hosts Heidi Dumesich and Jack Whelan discuss the current status of Australia's bid to host COP31, the implications of Turkey's involvement, and the challenges faced in organizing the event. They explore the importance of virtual engagement in climate discussions, the need for Australia to strengthen diplomatic relations with Pacific Islands, and the complexities surrounding carbon trading mechanisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. The conversation highlights the significance of adaptation and climate finance for developing countries, particularly in the Pacific region, and concludes with a call for future engagement and expert discussions on these critical topics.
Takeaways
- Australia's bid for COP31 is under threat from Turkey.
- The Pacific Islands support Australia's bid for COP31.
- If no consensus is reached, COP31 will default to Bonn, Germany.
- Virtual engagement can enhance participation in COP discussions.
- Australia's climate risk assessment highlights urgent issues.
- Diplomatic relations with Pacific Islands are crucial for Australia.
- Article 6 of the Paris Agreement focuses on carbon trading mechanisms.
- Countries face challenges in accessing climate finance for adaptation.
- Education on carbon markets is essential for developing countries.
- Future discussions will focus on specific themes within climate negotiations.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Weekend Activities
01:14 COP31 Bid Status and Negotiations
04:08 Potential Hosting Challenges and Events
05:36 Virtual Engagement and COP Participation
06:54 Downsizing COP31 and Stakeholder Engagement
09:19 Diplomatic Relations and Climate Ambitions
13:07 Climate Risks and Adaptation Needs
16:12 Focus on Specific Climate Issues
19:46 Understanding Carbon Trading Mechanisms
26:13 Conclusion and Future Discussions
Links:
Climate Week session on Article 6: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqMVP2QkRds&list=PLBcZ22cUY9RJT5Cp3K72BlPtp1eZQmztc&index=23
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/sep/13/australias-cop31-bid-teeters-as-rival-turkey-refuses-to-withdraw
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/15/pacific-islands-forum-pif-2025-five-key-takeaways
https://www.instagram.com/bula_cop31/