An Afghan delegation will participate in the United Nations COP29 climate change summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking the first time the Taliban-led government has attended an international environmental forum since coming to power.
The delegation, confirmed by Afghan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qahar Balkhi, will join representatives from around the globe as the conference opens on Monday.
Afghanistan, listed as one of the most climate-vulnerable nations worldwide, faces severe environmental challenges, with rising temperatures, droughts, and resource scarcity threatening its predominantly agrarian economy.
Despite the lack of formal recognition from any state since the Taliban regained power in 2021, the government has consistently urged that political isolation not prevent Afghanistan from engaging in essential climate discussions.
Reports indicate that Afghanistan’s delegation will likely hold observer status at COP29, allowing them to contribute to conversations without full participant privileges.
Despite political isolation, Afghanistan seeks to resume halted environmental projects through international climate talks.This comes as officials from Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) have stressed that global climate change efforts should remain separate from politics.
NEPA has also advocated for the resumption of international environment-related projects halted since the Taliban’s return, emphasizing the dire need for climate resilience programs.
Baku, the host city, has a unique role as a fossil fuel hub in the region, bordered by Russia and Iran.
This year, Azerbaijan reopened its embassy in Kabul, signaling a degree of diplomatic engagement despite its lack of official recognition of the Taliban government.
As the world addresses climate impacts in Baku, Afghanistan’s participation reflects its efforts to be part of global climate discourse, underscoring that environmental crises transcend political boundaries.
Whether this engagement will lead to further inclusion in global initiatives remains uncertain, yet Afghanistan’s presence at COP29 signals a push to be heard on the critical issue of climate change.