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India withdraws bid to host UN Climate Summit COP33 in 2028
India has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations climate summit COP33 in 2028. The decision was conveyed to the Asia-Pacific regional group chair. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed hosting the summit in 2028. South Korea has also expressed interest in hosting.
India has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations climate summit (COP33) in 2028, It has conveyed its decision in a letter to the chair and coordinator of the Asia-Pacific regional group in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), a position currently held by Pakistan. The letter was sent last week by Rajat Agarwal, India’s focal point for the UNFCCC, to the Asia-Pacific region chair Syed Haider Shah of Pakistan, officials told ET. An official announcement is yet to be made in this regard.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed the idea of India hosting the UN climate summit in 2028 while addressing the high-level segment of the World Climate Action Summit at COP28 in Dubai in 2023. India had previously hosted the summit (COP8) in 2002. Making the offer, the PM had said, “India is committed to the UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, through this platform, I propose to host COP33 Summit in India in 2028.” Though COP33 is two years away, with the second global stocktaking of the Paris Agreement on the agenda, effort would be made to finalise the host country as soon as possible, said people with knowledge of the matter. South Korea is the other country to have expressed an interest in hosting COP33.
India’s decision comes after months of considerable debate within the government on engagement on climate change and related issues at multilateral forums. “There has been an ongoing discussion since last year on how India should present itself on issues such as climate change, especially as major economies are putting the issue on the back burner,” an official privy to the discussions said on condition of anonymity.
Experts stress that while India may have backed out of hosting COP33, it remains committed to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement. "India announced its NDC 3.0 even as the world was pushed into an energy crisis that would have serious economic repercussions. The enhanced climate goals clearly demonstrate India's unwavering commitment to the multilateral climate process and its continued stewardship of the climate agenda," said Leena Nandan, former Environment and Climate Change Secretary of the Government of India.
Climate activists, however, described India’s decision as a “missed strategic opportunity”.
“COP33 should have been the forum where India demanded accountability for historical emissions, ensuring that a just transition to a green economy doesn't come at the expense of energy access for the world’s most vulnerable,” said Harjeet Singh, climate activist and founding director of Satat Sampada Climate Foundation.
Multiple factors contributed to India’s decision to not pursue its bid to host COP33, said people in the know, with a veteran observer of international climate talks describing the combination of factors as “a perfect storm”.
Concerns about blowback from the US, given the Trump administration’s views on climate change, were among the key factors that contributed to the decision. Foreign secretary Vikram Misri is in Washington this week for high-level talks with the US counterparts to strengthen the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The discussions will focus on defence, technology, bilateral trade and regional security, including future of the Chabahar port sanctions waiver.
Another expert and long-time observer of India’s climate engagements said, “It would take nearly two years of work to deliver a successful COP. The question is whether it is worthwhile for India to invest time, energy and political capital to host the COP at a time when it is no longer a top priority globally.”
Some observers pointed to the experience of recent COPs that have been less than successful.
With the second global stocktaking, which will review collective climate action during a difficult period, there are concerns about the ability to deliver a summit that would be universally considered a success. Some experts also said that any negative assessment of an Indian COP presidency could have adverse electoral impacts. COP33 is slated to be held in November 2028, just months ahead of the May 2029 general election.
Nonetheless, Singh said, “By stepping back, New Delhi also loses a critical platform to champion the global south—failing to replicate the leadership of its G20 presidency at a time when the global climate narrative must be framed around the needs of the developing world.”
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Source: EconomicTimes
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