SINGAPORE: India has withdrawn its offer to host the 2028 United Nations climate summit, COP33, according to officials familiar with the development, raising questions about future leadership of global climate negotiations.
The decision to step back from hosting the Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was communicated earlier this month, though no official reason has been publicly provided. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had initially proposed hosting the summit in 2023.
A report by Climate Home News indicated that the move followed a “review of commitments” for 2028, as outlined in a letter sent by an Indian official to the Asia-Pacific Group. The UNFCCC secretariat has yet to issue a formal response.
Meanwhile, in France, progress on reducing greenhouse gas emissions has slowed for the second consecutive year, highlighting broader global challenges in meeting climate targets.
Data released by Citepa showed that France’s emissions declined by just 1.5% in 2025 compared to the previous year. While the downward trend continues, officials acknowledged that the pace of reduction remains insufficient to meet the country’s 2030 climate goals.
The slowdown in France mirrors a wider pattern among major economies struggling to deliver on climate commitments, even as global temperatures remain near record highs.
The developments underscore growing concerns about the pace of global climate action, with both leadership gaps and insufficient emissions reductions threatening progress toward international climate targets.
By Agencies
