As India withdraws its bid to host COP33, discussions about this decision have been occurring in numerous global forums dealing with climate policy. The Indian government has reaffirmed its commitment to meeting its climate goals, even after making the announcement to withdraw, but there was no further explanation provided for the decision, raising questions about both transparency regarding climate policy and the long-term commitment of the Indian government.

India has positioned itself as an important voice for the Global South in many international negotiations regarding climate change; therefore, the withdrawal of hosting COP33 by India is extremely significant and should be of concern for all countries engaged in negotiating international responses to climate change.

What Led India to Withdraw from Hosting COP33?

• The official statement is rather ambiguous: The Ministry of External Affairs reported that there were “multiple reasons” for the decision without revealing any details, raising speculations among policy experts on whether logistical, economic, or geopolitical considerations played any role.
• Reversal from earlier commitment: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi put forward the proposal to host COP28 in Dubai (2023) as a step towards taking the lead in global climate discussions, suggesting a change in priority for India.
• Significant institutional preparations made: India had set up a special COP33 Cell in July 2025 under the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, showing how far things had progressed till the decision was made.
• The BRICS connection and global positioning: The BRICS group, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, backed India’s bid in 2024, emphasizing India’s position as an important developing nation.

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What Are the Climate and Credibility Implications of This Decision?

• NDC delay problems: The Indian government has already missed two deadlines in 2025 for submitting its updated NDCs for 2035, putting it among the 76 countries that have failed to meet the UNFCCC deadline before the submission date of March 2026.
• Lack of climate leadership in international forums: As India has not participated actively in COP summits since PM Modi skipped the last two meetings, doubts arise about the consistency of India’s climate diplomacy.
• Implications for the Global South position: India was considered an important advocate for climate justice and demands regarding climate financing in developed countries, but now it is not the case anymore.
• Concerns about domestic climate momentum: Some experts note that giving up the role of host country during COP33 could weaken efforts to push for climate change reforms.

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What Does This Mean for India’s Future Climate Strategy?

India withdraws its bid to host COP33, which means that it will be unable to fulfill its climate commitments for greenhouse gas emissions, while at the same time taking away what might have been a very influential opportunity for its long-term commitment and benefit from more international climate commitments.

With COP33, India had the chance to strengthen its commitment to and leadership on the global climate agenda, and at the same time, solidify its position as an emerging global power. Ultimately, India needs to strengthen both its national and international climate strategy (including hosting an event of this magnitude) in order to have a significant role in achieving global climate goals.

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