A reported Chinese decision against hosting the 2028 U.N. climate summit leaves Asia-Pacific governments to consider a candidate for the conference, which is scheduled to conclude the Paris Agreement’s second global stocktake.
The Guardian reported the decision on Nov. 12, and Agence France-Presse reported it the next day, citing people familiar with the deliberations. Asked about The Guardian’s report on Nov. 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said, “We have no information at the moment.” Her response did not confirm the reports or give a reason for the reported decision.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said countries in its Asia-Pacific Group were invited to put forward a possible host for COP33. The regional group must settle on a candidate before that country submits a bid for the conference’s decision. Parties have accepted Ethiopia’s offer to host COP32 in 2027, the UNFCCC said.
COP33 is scheduled to finish the second global stocktake under the Paris Agreement in November 2028. The UNFCCC says the review process will start at COP31; every five years, participating countries review their collective progress under the agreement. The stocktake’s findings are due to be considered at COP33.
Mao described COP as an “important platform for global climate governance.” She said China was “committed to advancing global green and low-carbon transition and international cooperation on climate response.” Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore supported China hosting the summit and called the reported decision “too bad,” The Guardian reported.
