The Taliban are attending a U.N. climate conference in Azerbaijan for the first time since taking power in Afghanistan in 2021. The conference, known as COP29, starts on Monday and marks an important milestone for the group, which does not have official recognition from the international community.
Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency has sent a technical delegation to participate in the talks, led by agency head Matiul Haq Khalis. The goal of their participation is to strengthen cooperation with the international community on environmental protection and climate change, as well as share Afghanistan’s needs for access to climate-related financial mechanisms.
Experts warn that climate change poses significant challenges to Afghanistan due to its geographical location and weak climate policies. Rising temperatures have reduced water sources, causing droughts that affect agricultural activities and food security. The country is particularly vulnerable to climate disasters, with 25 of its 34 provinces facing severe or catastrophic drought conditions, affecting over half the population.
The Taliban’s participation in the conference could help secure international assistance and funding to address Afghanistan’s climate challenges. According to a recent report by Save the Children, Afghanistan is the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change impacts and had the highest number of children made homeless by climate disasters globally as of 2023.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-taliban-climate-un-cop29-6695d30562689e0eac0f537818f12992