New Delhi, April 8 (ANI): India has withdrawn its proposal to host the 33rd Conference of the Parties (COP33) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2028, Environment Ministry sources said.
According to the sources, the decision was conveyed to the Asia-Pacific group on April 2. India had earlier proposed hosting the COP33 summit in 2028.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced India’s proposal during his special address at the inauguration of the high-level segment of COP28 in December 2023 in the United Arab Emirates.
“India is committed to the UN Framework for Climate Change process. That is why, from this stage, I propose to host the COP33 summit in India in 2028,” Modi had said in his remarks.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the government’s decision, expressing surprise at the move. “I am very surprised. It was high on the Prime Minister’s agenda, especially since 2029 will be the year of Lok Sabha polls. So atmospherics could have been created,” he said.
Last month, the Union Cabinet approved India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031 to 2035, enhancing the country’s ambitions under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement while reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development and climate justice.
An official release stated that India’s NDC for 2031–2035 is guided by the vision of “Viksit Bharat,” which is not just a goal for 2047 but a commitment to act now to build a prosperous and climate-resilient India for future generations.
“India’s successive climate targets build upon earlier commitments, many of which have already been achieved ahead of schedule, reflecting the country’s consistent track record of delivering on climate action,” the release said.
“The five qualitative targets are intended to embed sustainability into everyday life and governance systems, promote climate-resilient development pathways, and enable a just and inclusive transition for all sections of society,” it added. (ANI)
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