Taliban Government Attends UN Climate Conference for First Time

Representatives from the Taliban government in Afghanistan attended the UN climate change conference COP28 in Dubai for the first time, marking a significant step in their engagement with the international community on critical issues like climate change. The Taliban officials participated in a parallel session, both in person and online, engaging with a diverse array of counterparts from Western nations, including representatives from universities, diplomatic missions, UN agencies, donors, and grassroots members of Afghan society.

During the discussions, all parties acknowledged the necessity for "individual and collective action" to address the challenges posed by climate change in Afghanistan, one of the countries most vulnerable to its impacts despite being responsible for only 0.06% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Afghanistan has experienced a temperature increase of 1.8°C since 1950, outpacing the global average, and around 80% of its population of 43 million relies on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The Taliban government committed its full support for national and international organizations working to combat climate change and reduce its impact in Afghanistan. "The Taliban government ministries committed their full support for national and international organizations working on these issues," according to a statement from the talks co-hosted by the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee.

Why this matters: The Taliban government's participation in the UN climate conference signifies a potential shift in their engagement with the international community on critical global issues. It also highlights the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change in Afghanistan, which is among the countries least prepared to face its devastating effects after decades of conflict.

While international opinion remains divided on how to deal with the Taliban authorities, with some advocating for engaging on less controversial subjects that could benefit the population, the talks aimed to de-politicize key development issues like climate change. The Taliban government has called for more funding and for Afghanistan to be included in the upcoming COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, after being excluded from last year's COP28 in Dubai.

Key Takeaways

• Taliban govt attended UN climate conference COP28 in Dubai for the first time.
• Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change despite low emissions.
• Taliban govt committed full support for climate action organizations in Afghanistan.
• Participation signals potential shift in Taliban's engagement with global issues.
• Taliban called for more funding and inclusion in upcoming COP29 summit.