China mulls bid to host 2028 UN climate talks: sources

China is mulling a bid to host UN climate talks in 2028, two sources familiar with the matter told AFP Friday, as it seeks to burnish its reputation as a leader in the fight against global warming.

Beijing has not yet made a final decision regarding the proposal for the COP33 summit, both sources said, nor is there a clear timeline for doing so, since 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, which must reach a consensus on a host candidate. This year's COP31 is scheduled to take place in Turkey, followed by COP32 in Ethiopia in 2027.

The 2028 summit falls to the Asia-Pacific.

In April, India withdrew its offer to host COP33 without specifying a reason. South Korea has previously expressed interest.

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a query for comment.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat told AFP: "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."

China has in recent years positioned itself as a counterweight to President Donald Trump's fossil fuel-focused United States, and hosting UN climate talks could be an opportunity to cement its credentials as a climate leader.

The world's second-largest economy also has an economic interest 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, with its population of 1.4 billion and massive manufacturing industry, is the world's biggest greenhouse emitter, followed by the United States, India and the European Union.

Although it has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, it is targeting only a modest 7-10 percent reduction in economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2035, compared to peak levels.

Another piece that China is considering is the US-China dynamic, one source said.

Climate cooperation had been a key feature of the bilateral relationship under former presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama, and COP33 could spur renewed collaboration if a Democrat is elected in 2028.

The summit would likely fall days after the US presidential election to replace Trump.