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The Taliban government expressed its disappointment on Sunday after not receiving an official invitation to the COP30 UN Climate Change Conference in Brazil, which begins Monday.
Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) expressed deep concern, arguing that the exclusion contradicts principles of climate justice and global cooperation, particularly given that Afghanistan is among the countries most susceptible to the effects of climate change.
Despite contributing a minimal 0.06% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Afghanistan is highly vulnerable. For instance, approximately 89% of its population relies on agriculture, and the country has recently experienced severe, repeated droughts, drastically lowering groundwater levels.
The diplomatically isolated Taliban government, currently recognised only by Russia, maintains that political status should not prevent the country from participating in critical international climate discussions.
Although they attended COP29 last year, they did so as a “guest” of the host country, Azerbaijan, rather than a fully involved party.
