India’s Ambitious Bid to Host COP33 in 2028 Garners International Confidence

In the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement regarding India’s bid to host the COP33 Summit in 2028, Ambassador Abdulnasser Alshaali, the UAE Ambassador to India, has expressed confidence in India’s organizational prowess. He highlighted India’s demonstrated capabilities, drawing parallels with the effective management of the G20 meetings and summit.

In an interview with ANI, Ambassador Alshaali emphasized that India’s experience in hosting major international events, such as the G20 summit, positions the country favorably to successfully manage the COP33 Summit. He noted that members from the COP28 team observed India’s handling of the G20 meetings, considering it a valuable learning experience.

“We had members from the COP28 team coming in and seeing how India managed the G20 meetings and summit because it’s a learning curve, and you get to see some other countries’ experience,” said Alshaali, adding, “If there is a country that could host it successfully, it would be India. I’m sure India is more than capable of managing this.”

Ambassador Alshaali elaborated on the significance of the learning curve gained from India’s successful handling of the G20 summit, emphasizing the wealth of experience that can be applied to the COP28 presidency. He expressed confidence in India’s ability to navigate the logistical challenges associated with hosting a major global event.

The interview also covered the ongoing COP28 in Dubai, where Ambassador Alshaali highlighted significant achievements, including the operationalization of the Loss and Damage Fund with over USD 700 million in commitments. He commended India’s active participation in crucial declarations related to climate, such as climate health and climate finance.

“We managed to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund with more than USD 700 million in commitments, with USD 100 million coming from the UAE alone. We’ve had more than 130 countries sign the Food and Agriculture Declaration, more than 120 countries sign the Climate Health Declaration, and 13 countries, including India, sign the Climate Finance Declaration, among others,” he added.

India has been a strong supporter of the decision to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund.

The collaboration between India and the UAE in addressing climate change was characterized as “strong and excellent” by Ambassador Alshaali. He highlighted the alignment of efforts between the G20 summit and the COP28 presidency, showcasing the commitment of both nations to collaboratively address climate issues.

Discussing the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the UAE President during COP28, Ambassador Alshaali noted, “They discussed all sorts of topics among them, and most importantly, the COP28 presidency and climate action.” He emphasized that such discussions contribute to the progression of the bilateral relationship.

Regarding India’s invitation to the UAE President for the Gujarat Vibrant Summit, Ambassador Alshaali confirmed the UAE’s participation, stating, “I can tell you that I will be there. The UAE is a partner of Vibrant Gujarat. I know that we will be represented at the highest level possible.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement about India’s bid to host COP33 in 2028 has garnered international confidence, reflecting the recognition of India’s leadership in climate action and its commitment to playing a pivotal role in global environmental initiatives.