A Taliban delegation from Afghanistan arrived in Azerbaijan on Sunday to participate in a United Nations climate change conference, marking the group’s first appearance at an international climate summit since taking control of Afghanistan three years ago. Led by Muti-ul-Haq Khalis, the head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, the Taliban officials are expected to hold observer status rather than full participation at the COP29 conference, which starts Monday in Baku and runs through November 22.
Afghan state-run media confirmed the Taliban’s presence, underscoring their intention to engage on climate issues despite their continued political isolation. Although Afghanistan is among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, facing severe flash floods and enduring droughts, the Taliban’s rule has left the country without formal international recognition, barring it from a seat at the United Nations General Assembly.
COP29’s host nation, Azerbaijan, invited Afghan officials to the summit in a capacity that allows for limited participation, according to sources who spoke with Reuters. “They will likely engage in periphery discussions and may have opportunities for bilateral meetings,” a diplomatic source said. However, the delegation will remain without full voting or decision-making privileges.
Afghanistan’s mounting environmental challenges have intensified since the Taliban took power, with extreme weather patterns compounding humanitarian struggles. Flash floods earlier this year killed over 350 people, demolished thousands of homes, and devastated agricultural lands across the country. According to U.N. agencies, Afghanistan’s recent climate-related disasters signal the escalating climate crisis gripping the region, where already vulnerable populations are increasingly at risk.
The Taliban have argued that Afghanistan’s lack of recognition should not impede its participation in climate discussions, citing the existential threat that climate change poses to Afghan livelihoods. They maintain that involvement in climate action could help address the country’s environmental and humanitarian needs, which are urgent despite Afghanistan’s political situation.
Yet, the Taliban’s harsh policies on women’s rights have stalled formal engagement with their government on the global stage. Since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, following the withdrawal of U.S. and NATO troops, Afghan women’s rights have been severely restricted. Under Taliban law, girls cannot receive an education past the sixth grade, and female students are barred from attending universities. Taliban-enforced dress codes require women to cover their faces and bodies in public, and women are prohibited from undertaking extended road or air travel without a male guardian.
Taliban leaders insist these policies align with their interpretation of Sharia law and resist calls for policy changes, condemning international critiques as undue interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
