China considers hosting 2028 UN climate summit

China is considering a bid to host the 2028 United Nations COP33 climate summit, according to sources familiar with the matter. The move is seen as an attempt to bolster Beijing’s reputation as a global leader in climate action.

The 2028 summit falls to the Asia-Pacific regional group under the UN’s rotating host schedule. Previous interest in hosting COP33 included South Korea, while India had previously offered and then withdrawn its bid in April. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat stated it has not yet received an official nomination from the Asia-Pacific Regional Group, as regional groups must first conduct internal consultations.

As the world’s leading exporter of green technologies—including electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines—China has significant economic interests in the climate sector. Hosting the summit would allow the country to project environmental leadership on the international stage, particularly as climate policies fluctuate in other major economies like the United States.