Australia’s failed bid to host Cop31 looks like a mess – but it may actually be the best result possible | Adam Morton

While the outcome is a let down for those who want Australia to do better on climate, Chris Bowen looks set to play a pivotal role in the UN talks

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Ouch. From one perspective, Australia's long-running bid to host the Cop31 UN climate conference next year has ended in clear failure.

It campaigned for more than three years for the rights to put on the world's biggest climate summit and green trade fair, which would have brought tens of thousands of people to the South Australian capital of Adelaide next November.