China weighs bid to host COP33 climate talks

China is considering a bid to host the 2028 UN climate talks, known as COP33, two sources familiar with the matter said on August 21.

The sources said Beijing had not made a final decision and there was no clear timeline, because the host does not have to be chosen this year.

The UN’s annual climate summits rotate among regional blocs, which must agree on a host candidate. COP31 is scheduled to take place in Turkey, followed by COP32 in Ethiopia in 2027. The 2028 summit falls to the Asia-Pacific region.

India withdrew its offer to host COP33 in April without giving a reason. South Korea has previously expressed interest.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change secretariat said it had not been informed by the Asia-Pacific Regional Group of a host-country nomination for COP33. It said regional groups first hold consultations before formally sending a nomination to the secretariat.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

China has positioned itself in recent years as a counterweight to President Donald Trump’s fossil fuel-focused United States. Hosting the climate summit could allow Beijing to strengthen its climate credentials.

China is also a major exporter of green technologies, including solar panels, electric vehicles, wind turbines and batteries. But hosting the summit could also draw attention to China’s emissions. It is the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitter, followed by the United States, India and the European Union.

China has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 and is targeting a 7-10 percent reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared with peak levels.

One source said China was also considering the US-China dynamic. Climate cooperation was a key part of the bilateral relationship under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and COP33 could spur renewed collaboration if a Democrat is elected in 2028. The summit would likely fall days after the US presidential election to replace Trump.