China is weighing a bid to host the 2028 UN climate summit, according to two sources familiar with the matter, a move that could bolster Beijing's standing as a global climate leader while also drawing scrutiny over its own emissions.

The sources, who spoke on Friday, said Beijing has not yet made a final decision on the COP33 proposal and that there is no clear timeline for doing so, noting the host does not have to be decided this year. China's interest was first reported by Bloomberg News.

The UN's annual climate gatherings rotate among regional blocs. This year's COP31 is scheduled for Turkey, with COP32 in Ethiopia in 2027. The 2028 summit falls to the Asia-Pacific region. In April, India withdrew its offer to host COP33 without specifying a reason, and South Korea has previously expressed interest.

Diplomatic context

China has in recent years positioned itself as a counterweight to the United States, which under President Donald Trump withdrew from the landmark Paris climate agreement twice while seeking to boost fossil fuels. Hosting the climate talks could therefore be an opportunity for China to burnish its credentials as a climate leader, according to the sources.

The world's second-largest economy also has an economic stake as the leading exporter of green technologies, including solar panels, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and batteries. But hosting the gathering could also cast an unwelcome spotlight on China, which is the world's biggest greenhouse gas emitter, followed by the United States, India, and the European Union.

China has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, but it targets only a modest 7% to 10% reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2035 compared to peak levels.

U.S.-China dynamics

One source said China is considering the U.S.-China dynamic as part of its decision. Climate cooperation was a key feature of the bilateral relationship under former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama. COP33 could spur renewed collaboration if a Democrat is elected in 2028, and the summit would likely fall days after the U.S. presidential election that will determine Trump's successor.

Alden Meyer, of the climate change think tank E3G, said: "The dynamics between the U.S. and China have been a force for both progress and tension over the 35-year history of the climate regime, and the larger U.S.-China relationship will continue to be challenging regardless of the outcome of the next election."

Official responses

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a query for comment. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat said: "We have not been informed by the Asia-Pacific Regional Group on the nomination of the host country for COP33. Regional groups hold consultations first to determine which country from their respective regions will offer to host on behalf of the group. Once agreed, the chair of that regional group formally sends an official nomination to the secretariat."