Libs refuse to back Australia-Pacific climate forum bid

A major climate summit Australia hopes to host with Pacific island nations could be in jeopardy under a coalition government.

It has reignited the debate between Labor and the Liberals over environmental commitments and Australia's standing in the Pacific, where climate change is an existential issue, ahead of an imminent federal election.

Australia is bidding to host the annual Conference of Parties climate summit in 2026 and has gathered support from allies and the Pacific.

Turkey is also bidding to host COP31, and both parties failed to reach an agreement at the COP29 summit hosted in Baku in November 2024.

The coalition's climate change spokesman Ted O'Brien wouldn't commit to supporting the co-hosting bid.

"Our priority is to get costs down for everyday Australian households and businesses, that's what matters most," he told AAP.

"Labor's priority is hosting a global climate change summit."

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen clapped back, accusing the opposition of political games.

Labor has said a co-hosted summit with the Pacific would show Australia is serious about tackling climate change and its commitment to the region where it's a major priority for island nations.

It also questioned the opposition's commitment to the Pacific if it wasn't serious about climate action.

"We are bidding to host COP31 in partnership with the Pacific because it is in Australia's national interest to bring down energy bills and emissions with reliable renewables while safeguarding our international relationships," Mr Bowen told AAP.

"It's bold from Ted O'Brien, who has spent more time overseas studying expensive international nuclear systems than listening to our experts on Australia's unique solar and wind opportunities."

Mr O'Brien has questioned the cost of hosting the summit, who would pay and what commitments the governments would make.

"Australians deserve honesty. If Labor wants to host COP, they should be transparent about their plans so that everyone, opposition and public alike, knows the truth." he said.

But the bid hasn't been won and if it was, a range of decisions would then have to be taken regarding logistics and policy arrangements, Labor noted.

South Australia is bidding to host the conference in Adelaide, saying it would showcase global leadership in renewable energy and bring in more than $500 million in economic benefits for the state.

Pacific nations consistently argue climate change is their priority as rising sea levels pose an existential threat to low-lying islands.

Labor has seized on the coalition's nuclear energy policy to argue it would distance Australia from Pacific allies, especially as geostrategic competition with China heats up in the region.

Pacific island nations are largely opposed to nuclear technologies after a legacy of damaging nuclear testing in the region.

A lack of ambitious climate action and neglect of the Pacific allowed China to gain a foothold when the last coalition government was in power, Foreign Minister Penny Wong argues.

Mr O'Brien's comments came a week after opposition foreign affairs spokesman David Coleman used a speech to argue the coalition remained committed to the region and it was vital Australia succeed in the Pacific.

The Pacific had to be at the core of Australia's foreign policy, he said.