The Afghan delegation will participate in the United Nations Climate Change Summit (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the country’s first participation. the taliban It has been taken under control in 2021. The summit will be held from November 11 to 22.
Although neither country has formally recognized the Taliban government, Azerbaijan has invited a delegation. While the delegation’s role at COP29 remains unclear, sources suggest they will have observer status, according to an AFP report.
Azerbaijan reopened its embassy in Kabul this year but does not officially recognize the Taliban administration.
Afghanistan is placed at high risk for the impacts of climate change. Taliban officials have stressed the importance of Afghanistan’s involvement International climate talksArguing that political isolation should not prevent the country from engaging in such important negotiations.
“Climate change is a human problem,” said Zainulabedin Abid, deputy head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA). “We have asked the international community not to conflate the issue of climate change with politics.”
NEPA officials have stressed the urgency of addressing climate change and called for the revival of environmental projects that have stalled since the Taliban takeover.
Afghanistan, a signatory to the 2015 Paris Agreement, was developing its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) before the change of government. Nepal continues to work on this document despite the uncertainty that the United Nations will recognize their efforts.
This participation in COP29 represents a step towards Afghanistan’s re-engagement in global climate change discussions, despite its political isolation.