Concerns Raised Over India's Withdrawal from Hosting COP 33

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh has expressed his worries regarding the Indian government's recent decision to retract its proposal to host the 33rd Conference of the Parties (COP 33) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2028. This statement comes amid criticisms of the government's commitment to climate initiatives following the Paris Agreement of 2015. The announcement to withdraw the proposal was communicated to the Asia-Pacific group on April 2, 2025. Earlier, during a high-level session at COP-28 in the United Arab Emirates in December 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had indicated India's intention to host COP 33.

 

Ramesh has raised doubts about the government's dedication to reducing carbon emissions, suggesting that the decision to withdraw reflects a lack of seriousness towards climate commitments. He accused the government of wanting to leverage COP 33 for electoral gains ahead of the upcoming general elections in 2029. Highlighting Modi's December 2023 announcement on social media, Ramesh questioned the consistency of this recent withdrawal with the Prime Minister's earlier claims of pride in hosting a global climate conference.

 

Ramesh's remarks also pointed to the implications of international climate agreements. He emphasized the significance of the upcoming seventh assessment report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is set to be released before 2028, and mentioned the potential demands for stringent action on climate change that could place additional pressure on India as the host country. No specific reasons have been publicly provided for the sudden decision to withdraw from hosting the conference, raising further questions about the government's intentions regarding climate policy and international cooperation.

 

Observers from various sectors have noted that hosting major international conferences is often viewed as an opportunity to enhance a nation's credibility on the global stage. In this context, India's withdrawal from COP 33 signifies a significant shift in its international climate engagement strategy. Ramesh also referenced comments made by Prime Minister Modi in 2014 regarding climate change, highlighting the inconsistency between past statements and current actions. He suggested that the government's recent move does not align with the commitments made by India on various international platforms.