Afghanistan's Environmental Agency Criticizes Halt of Climate Change Projects

Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) has criticized the halt of climate change projects in the country following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. In a joint press conference with the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee, NEPA's deputy head, Zainul Abideen Abid, stated that 32 environmental projects were suspended and called on the international community to resume them.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has expressed grave concern about the worsening weather changes in Afghanistan, reporting that 67% of families are facing drought-related problems and 16% of the country's areas are affected by floods. The UNDP emphasized that Afghanistan is struggling with severe climate change, with 79% of families lacking access to safe drinking water. "Afghanistan ranked sixth among climate-vulnerable countries in 2023 and fourth in overall natural disaster risk, with a 1.8 degree Celsius temperature increase from 1950 to 2023," the UNDP reported.

Why this matters: Afghanistan is one of the countries least equipped to deal with the devastating effects of climate change, which are causing extreme weather events and altering natural environments after 40 years of conflict. The halt of climate change projects in the country further endangers impoverished and climate-vulnerable populations, making it crucial for the international community to take collective action.

The Taliban government has announced a three-day conference on climate change and urged the global community to resume suspended projects and provide technical and financial assistance. Abid stated that the groundwork for investment and implementation of clean energy production projects has been laid, and further investment is needed.

The head of the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee, Terje Watterdal, emphasized the need for comprehensive cooperation between the international community and the Afghan people through United Nations agencies. He noted that 80% of the Afghan population relies on agriculture, which is heavily affected by climate change, and called for collective action involving Afghan ministries, universities, industry, and civil society, with support from the international community.

The Taliban government recently entered its first talks with the United Nations, donors, and non-governmental organizations over the impact of climate change in Afghanistan. All sides agreed that both individual and collective action is required to combat climate change and reduce its impact in the country. The NEPA deputy director called for more funding and for Afghanistan to be included in the upcoming COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan in November.

Afghanistan faces significant difficulties related to climate change, with the UNDP report highlighting the devastating impact on agriculture, the agricultural value chain, and the country's economic backbone, exacerbating the effects of conflict, poverty, and displacement. The Taliban government has emphasized the need for the resumption of suspended climate change projects and called for collective global action to address the challenges posed by climate change in Afghanistan. "The international community should resume the environmental projects halted following the return of the Islamic Emirate," Abid stated during the joint press conference with the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee.

Key Takeaways

• Afghanistan's climate projects halted after Taliban takeover, NEPA calls for resumption.
• UNDP reports 67% of Afghan families face drought, 16% affected by floods, 79% lack safe water.
• Afghanistan ranks 6th most climate-vulnerable, with 1.8°C temperature rise since 1950.
• Taliban urges global community to resume climate projects, provide technical and financial aid.
• Afghanistan's agriculture and economy heavily impacted by climate change, requiring collective action.