India withdraws bid to host annual UN climate talks in 2028

INDIA has withdrawn its offer to host the United Nations ​annual climate Conference of the ‌Parties (COP33) in 2028, two government officials familiar with the matter told Reuters.

India communicated its ​decision not to host the ​conference this month, the officials said, ⁠but it was not immediately clear ​why the government had pulled out. ​The officials declined to be named, as they are not authorised to speak to the ​media.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had proposed ​hosting the summit in 2023. The federal ministry ‌for ⁠environment and climate change did not immediately respond to a request for comments.

Climate Home News, which first reported ​the news, ​said India ⁠withdrew after a "review of its commitments" in 2028, citing ​a letter written by an ​Indian ⁠official to the chair of the Asia-Pacific Group.

The United Nations Framework Convention ⁠on ​Climate Change secretariat did ​not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.