India has withdrawn its candidature to host COP33 in 2028, an offer made by Narendra Modi on the sidelines of COP28

India has withdrawn its offer to host the COP33 climate summit in 2028, according to sources, in a move that has surprised officials and climate observers.

The bid was originally announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the COP28, where India positioned itself as a key voice for the Global South on climate action.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change indicated that the decision to withdraw was taken recently after internal deliberations, though no formal public statement has confirmed the move.

The development has drawn reactions from political leaders, including Jairam Ramesh, who expressed surprise, noting the proposal had been a prominent part of the government’s global agenda.

Sources suggest multiple factors may have influenced the decision, including the logistical and political challenges of hosting a large-scale global summit involving nearly 200 countries and tens of thousands of participants. There is also speculation that India may be prioritising other major international events in the run-up to the next general elections.

The withdrawal leaves uncertainty over the host for COP33, which is scheduled to be held by a country from the Asia-Pacific region. With India stepping back, South Korea is currently the only nation to have expressed interest in hosting the 2028 summit.

Experts say the move could be a missed opportunity for India to showcase its renewable energy progress and leadership in climate negotiations, as well as to highlight the vulnerabilities of South Asia to climate change.