Congress slams centre over India’s withdrawal from hosting COP33 in 2028

New Delhi: Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday criticised the Union government after reports emerged that India has withdrawn its offer to host the 2028 UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP33), calling the move a reflection of the Modi government’s “true commitment” to the Paris Agreement and climate action.

In a strongly-worded statement, on X, Ramesh recalled that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced at the COP28 summit in Dubai on December 1, 2023, that India would host the annual UN climate summit in 2028.

He alleged that the original decision was politically motivated and aimed at leveraging the international event ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, much like, he claimed, the government had done with the G20 Summit in New Delhi before the 2024 general elections.

“Unexpectedly last night, it was announced that India will not be hosting the high-profile 2028 Conference. No reasons have been given for this sudden decision,” Ramesh said.

The Congress leader argued that the withdrawal raises serious questions over the government’s seriousness toward the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement “both in letter and spirit.”

He further said the move also casts doubt on the Modi government’s willingness to commit to more ambitious carbon mitigation targets in the short and medium term.

Ramesh pointed out that by 2028, the seventh assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) may be published, which could increase pressure on the host nation and chair of the climate conference to broker a fresh global consensus on stronger emissions reduction commitments.

According to him, such a role would likely have required India to push for “a scaling up of ambitions not just for a distant future,” a responsibility he implied the Centre may be reluctant to shoulder.

In a political swipe, Ramesh also referred to a past remark by Prime Minister Modi on climate change, recalling that he had once told children that “people have changed, climate has not.”

Calling the comment “bizarre,” Ramesh said it reflected the government’s inconsistent approach to climate issues.

The Centre has not yet publicly elaborated on the reasons behind the reported decision to step back from hosting the 2028 summit.

India’s withdrawal from hosting the global climate conference, if confirmed formally through diplomatic channels, is likely to trigger political debate over the country’s international climate positioning as well as its domestic environmental commitments.