India has quietly withdrawn its offer to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, leaving the future of the conference uncertain, Climate Home News first reported.
A senior Indian official informed other nations of the decision on April 2. The withdrawal came “following a review of its commitments for the year 2028,” the official said, offering no further explanation.
The offer was originally made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023. The Indian government has not publicly announced the reversal and did not respond to a request for comment, according to Climate Home News.
A letter dated April 2, seen and verified by Climate Home News, confirmed the decision. In it, Rajat Agarwal, the environment ministry official responsible for liaising with the UN climate body (UNFCCC), told the chair of the Asia-Pacific Group that India is withdrawing its candidacy. The letter said India will continue to engage constructively on climate action and thanked Asia-Pacific nations for their “support and solidarity.”
The withdrawal leaves COP33’s host uncertain. South Korea is now the only country that has expressed interest in holding the 2028 summit. A final decision is expected later this year.
COP33 will follow COP31, which Türkiye and Australia will co-host, and COP32 in Ethiopia. Under UN rules, the right to host annual climate talks rotates among five regional groups. The Asia-Pacific Group holds the next turn, and India had been widely expected to fill that slot.
As recently as July 2025, the BRICS bloc, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, had welcomed India’s candidacy in a joint statement. That same month, India’s environment ministry had established a dedicated COP33 preparation unit, called the “COP33 cell,” with 11 members under its Climate Change Division.
The sudden reversal raises questions about India’s climate commitments ahead of one of the world’s most important annual diplomatic events, where governments assess global progress toward limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
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