WITHDRAWAL FROM HOSTING COP33 IN 2028

NEWS: India àformally withdrew its bid to host UNFCCC COP 33 in 2028, citing a “review of its commitments for the year 2028.”

BACKGROUND

• Indiaàhosted a climate COP only once before – COP 8 in 2002 in New Delhi.
• South Koreaà remains the only other country in the Asia Pacific group that has expressed interest in hosting the 2028 summit.

Factors Behind India’s Withdrawal from Hosting COP33

• COP 33 in 2028 àwould have overlapped with final preparations for the 2029 Indian General Elections.
• The preparations for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad àdemand substantial resources and logistical commitment during the same period.
• The COP presidencyà carries an obligation to broker fossil fuel phase-out compromises that may conflict with India’s national energy security.
• COP 33 àwould have coincided with the Second Global Stocktake, placing India’s domestic energy policies under intense international scrutiny.

Process of Selection of COP Venue

• ReCOP venueà rotates among five UN regional groups: (1) African, (2) Asia-Pacific, (3) Eastern European, (4) Latin American and Caribbean, and (5) Western European and Other.
• Member states in the region consult internally to select one country as host.
• The chosen countryà submits its formal offer to the UNFCCC Secretariat via the chair of its regional group.
• The Secretariat undertakes a technical mission to the prospective host country to verify its logistical, financial, and security readiness.
• COPà formally adopts a decision, usually titled “Dates and Venues of Future Sessions,” to accept the group’s recommendation.
• If no country within the regional group volunteersà the default venue is UNFCCC headquarters in Bonn, Germany.