Taliban officials from Afghanistan are participating in the UN climate summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, marking the first time since 2021 that Afghanistan has attended the annual conference.
The development comes as the Taliban seeks greater acceptance on the world stage, but remains largely isolated due to its governance policies and human rights record, particularly restrictions on women and girls.
The Taliban delegation, led by Matuil Haq Khalis, head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), will attend as observers rather than full participants. According to diplomatic sources cited by Reuters, the observer status limits their role to “periphery discussions.” This arrangement allows them to engage in side discussions and bilateral meetings but does not grant standard participant credentials due to the Taliban’s lack of recognition as the legitimate Afghan government.
Khalis expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for facilitating Afghanistan’s attendance. During the talks, he emphasized the country’s vulnerability to climate impacts, particularly unpredictable rainfall, droughts, and flash floods.
Afghanistan has been experiencing severe climate impacts, from extended droughts to intense flash floods, which have devastated agricultural production and worsened food insecurity in this predominantly agrarian nation. In March, northern Afghanistan faced heavy rains that led to flash floods, killing over 300 people. Climate experts report that rainfall in Afghanistan has become 25% heavier over the last 40 years, increasing the risk of sudden flooding in many areas.
Khalis called for international support, stating, “Climate change requires collective work.” He avoided addressing the specific vulnerabilities of women in climate crises, noted in a U.N. report, stating that “climate change impact doesn’t have any boundaries,” affecting all demographics, animals, and plants.
Taliban officials have argued that Afghanistan’s climate challenges should transcend political considerations. Deputy NEPA head Zainulabedin Abid previously appealed for international engagement on climate issues, saying, “Climate change is a humanitarian subject. We have called on the international community not to relate climate change with politics.”
