India on Friday confirmed it has withdrawn its bid to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, but the reasons behind the surprise decision remain unclear, with the government offering only a broad explanation so far.

“Yes, India has withdrawn. We have taken several factors into account. But India remains fully committed to meeting its climate change commitments,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a weekly briefing.

“We continue to build on our green agenda and, at the same time, see how we can best foster great climate change action worldwide with our international partners,” he added.

The move, however, has raised questions among climate observers, especially as no detailed justification has been made public. Jaiswal directed queries on specifics to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, which has yet to respond.

PROMISE MADE, PROMISE BROKEN

The withdrawal marks a sharp reversal from a high-profile pitch by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had proposed India’s candidature to host COP33 during the COP28 summit in Dubai in 2023.

The announcement had been widely viewed as an assertion of India’s leadership role in global climate negotiations, particularly as a voice of the Global South.

In July 2024, the Brics bloc – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – had backed India’s proposal, and a dedicated COP33 cell was later set up in 2025 to handle planning and logistics.

Back home, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had even established a dedicated COP33 Cell in July 2025 to manage the professional and logistical requirements of the summit.

Then, the plan collapsed.

During the briefing, Jaiswal asked journalists to seek specifics from the Ministry of Environment Forests and Climate Change. The Environment Ministry is yet to respond to the questions posed by IndiaToday.in.

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

The fallout from this decision goes beyond just losing an event. India’s decision to withdraw is expected to be a setback for climate action both domestically and globally, with deeper concerns now surfacing about India’s climate credibility.

India had already missed two deadlines last year to submit its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for 2035, placing it among 76 UNFCCC member nations that failed to meet the requirement, before finally announcing updated goals in March 2026.

PM Modi has also not attended the last two COP summits, sending ministers in his place.

The timing stings particularly hard given that India had used last year’s COP30 to openly criticise developed nations for failing to deliver on climate finance promises, emerging as a potential champion for developing economies on the climate frontline.

For a country that has made renewable energy a cornerstone of its global identity, walking away from the world’s biggest climate forum without so much as a press conference raises uncomfortable questions about where India’s climate ambitions truly stand. (India Today)

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President Ranil Wickremesinghe engaged in a crucial conversation with US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, John Kerry, on Monday (Dec 04) emphasizing Sri Lanka’s commitment to combatting climate change through innovative initiatives.

In the discussion, President Wickremesinghe outlined the Government’s ambitious proposals, prominently featuring the establishment of a Climate Change University. 

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the President shed light on the comprehensive plan designed to address climate challenges and foster sustainable solutions.

A major focal point of the conversation was the critical issue of raising the necessary funds to effectively tackle climate change. 

President Wickremesinghe also stressed the imperative of private sector involvement to augment financial resources for climate-related projects.

President Wickremesinghe extended an invitation to John Kerry, urging him to visit Sri Lanka and witness first-hand the ongoing efforts and initiatives being undertaken by the country in its commitment to combat climate change. 

The President met John Kerry on the sidelines of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai. (NewsWire)

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