China decides against hosting 2028 UN climate summit, months after India pulled out of the race
With both Asian giants out, the search for a COP33 host in the Asia-Pacific region is wide open. Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Thailand and South Korea have been mentioned as possible contenders.
China has decided not to bid to host the COP33 United Nations climate summit in 2028, according to sources who spoke to AFP on Friday at the ongoing COP31 talks in Antalya, Turkey. The Guardian first reported the decision, which follows months of deliberation in Beijing.
China never publicly confirmed it was interested. Asked about the reports, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said they were not aware of the situation, but described the UN talks as an important platform for global climate governance and said China would keep working on its low-carbon transition.
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An open field in Asia
Under the UN's rotation system, the 2028 summit is due to be held in the Asia-Pacific region. India had considered hosting but withdrew its offer in April without giving a reason. With both of Asia's largest economies now out, countries including Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Thailand and South Korea have been mentioned as possible hosts, though reports differ on how serious each is and no formal bid has been lodged.
The reasons for China's decision are not clear. Experts quoted by The Guardian pointed to the US political calendar: COP33 is scheduled for 6 to 17 November 2028, overlapping the US presidential election on 7 November, with Donald Trump still in office until January 2029. The US has stayed away from the talks since Trump returned to office in 2025 and has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. Former US Vice President Al Gore called China's decision "too bad".
The 2028 meeting carries extra weight because it will hold the second global stocktake under the Paris Agreement, assessing how far countries have fallen short of their goals.
Emissions trend
The news comes as analysis cited by Italian daily Il Sole 24 Ore suggests China's emissions may already have peaked, well ahead of its 2030 target, after a 3 per cent fall in the third quarter of this year. China remains the world's biggest emitter, but it is adding renewable power faster than any other country.
At COP31, negotiators are divided over a roadmap for moving away from fossil fuels, with India, Saudi Arabia and Russia reported to be opposing new targets. The next summit, COP32, will be held in Addis Ababa in 2027.
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