Australian taxpayers face a hospitality bill of about $2.2 million for Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen’s involvement in the COP31 summit in Antalya, Turkey.
Mr Bowen is serving as co-president of the United Nations climate talks alongside Turkey’s Environment Minister Murat Kurum, with negotiations beginning on Monday.
Contracts issued through the Australian Government department responsible for the minister include almost $1.3 million for events management and a further $872,682 for accommodation services provided by Coral Seyahat A.S., a group managing luxury resorts.
A separate contract worth $32,000 has also been awarded to Espresso Akademi Gıda Danışmanlık Sanayi ve Ticaret to supply coffee to the Australian Pavilion and Delegation Office.
The money is understood to cover equipment and staff providing free coffee to delegates visiting the Australian Pavilion as an “engagement tool”.
Dan Tehan, the Opposition’s energy spokesperson, criticised the spending amid pressure on household finances.
“Chris Bowen should take his own Nescafe. When will the penny drop that there is a cost-of-living crisis in Australia?” he said.
Controversy surrounding COP31
The summit, which runs from November 9 to 20, is expected to attract thousands of delegates and has faced growing criticism over the scale and cost of the event.
The United Nations acknowledged in September that the target agreed under the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5C by the end of the decade would not be met.
The United States, described as the world’s biggest polluter, has withdrawn from the talks under the Trump administration, although a 19-member American congressional delegation is due to travel to Turkey.
Illinois Representative Sean Casten said the delegation would perform an “important diplomatic function” at COP31 following a Democratic victory in the US midterm elections.
“We will not, of course, be in the majority at that point, but we will be received with the understanding of what just happened,” Mr Casten told a press conference.
