China rules out hosting Cop33 climate summit in 2028

Decision disappoints experts hoping for world’s biggest emitter to take global lead on climate crisis

China has ruled out hosting the Cop33 UN climate summit in 2028 after months of deliberations, leaving the field open for other Asian countries to hold it, the Guardian understands.

The decision will disappoint many countries and climate experts, who had hoped the world’s biggest emitter would take the lead on the global stage, as the US under Donald Trump has vacated all forms of international cooperation on the climate.