KABUL: The Taliban regime has voiced disappointment over not being invited to the upcoming COP30 climate conference, despite Afghanistan being among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations. The 30th UN Climate Change Conference, opening Monday in Brazil, is expected to bring together representatives from dozens of countries to discuss global climate action.
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In a statement issued on Sunday, Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (Nepa) expressed “deep concern” over the country’s exclusion. “Despite Afghanistan being one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, it has unfortunately not received an official invitation,” the agency said.
The Taliban government, which remains largely unrecognised internationally — except by Russia — participated in COP29 last year as a “guest” of host nation Azerbaijan, without direct involvement in negotiations. Officials in Kabul maintain that diplomatic isolation should not prevent Afghanistan from contributing to global climate discussions.
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“The exclusion of the Afghan people from this conference contradicts the principles of climate justice, global cooperation, and human solidarity,” Nepa added. Afghanistan contributes just 0.06 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions but faces severe climate impacts, with nearly 89 per cent of its population relying on agriculture for survival, according to the United Nations.