Vanuatu's climate minister expressed disappointment at Australia's decision to expand one of the world's largest LNG projects and expressed doubts about co-hosting the COP31 summit with the Pacific nation.

The United Nations is expected to announce in the coming weeks which country will host a major climate summit, and Australia will push the event to be held in Adelaide as part of the “Pacific Police”.

Speaking to the Guardian, Vanuatu's Minister of Climate Adaptation Ralph Regenvanu said the Pacific leaders who supported the co-chaired proposal will now "ask questions" until 2070 before Australia decides on the green light Woodside Northwest Shelf Gas Project.

Scientists and activists say that extending life may be related to the maximum of 6 billion tons of greenhouse gases emitted in the next few decades.

"If they were to be the host of police at the same time, this was not the leader we wanted to see from Australia," Regovanu told the Guardian.

Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited Vanuatu a week before the government approved the extension of the Woodside gas plant. There, she said Australia has been a “very focused economy” and “(we) have to turn things around”.

Regenvanu called this "double speech from Australia" and feared that the same would happen during the police.

"It's confusing to let people in the Pacific hear a message and then see that the action is completely contradictory to what the government says to us," Radenvanu told the Guardian.

Although he is concerned about Australia's support for the fossil fuel industry, Radenvanu said he continues to support the Australian government with COP31 bid.

"We continue to stand with Australia, but we are very disappointed with what happened," Regenvanu said.

“Obviously, it raises questions about whether Australia is really the partner of choice and whether it is really a friend of the Pacific.”

COP or “meetings of parties to climate change” include meetings where governments are making treaties, such as treaties such as treaties, such as treaties that reduce global temperature rises.

In the past, UN climate negotiations have been criticized for being held in major fossil fuel producers, with some experts calling on moderators to prove their climate certificates first.

Pacific leaders support Australia's bid for a Pacific Police Department in 2026, saying the meeting will help highlight the crisis climate facing countries in the Pacific crisis and help them advocate for more ambitious global action. But regional leaders have also criticized Australia's continued reliance on fossil fuels.

Palau president Surangel Whipps Jr said the “benefits and credibility” of Australia’s bid depends in part on its promise to deviate from new gas and coal development. Tuvalu's Interior Ministry, Minister of Climate Change and Environment Maina Talia said Australia's decision to expand the Northwest gas shelf project is "threatening our survival and violating the spirit of the Pacific-Australian climate partnership".