For the first time since seizing control of Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban has been invited to participate in an official United Nations climate event. Led by Matiul Haq Khalis, the head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, a Taliban delegation arrived in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 10 to attend COP29, the UN’s 29th annual climate conference. This unprecedented invitation has sparked discussion about the place of political considerations in global efforts to address the climate crisis.

COP29, which runs from November 11 to November 22, brings together leaders, environmental experts, and delegations from around the world to discuss the urgent need for cooperative action on climate change. With Afghanistan among the nations most severely impacted by environmental disasters, the Taliban’s participation may provide an opportunity for the war-torn country to re-engage on an issue of critical significance to its people, even in the absence of official international recognition.

Afghanistan’s environmental challenges are severe. The country has been ravaged by a series of natural disasters in recent years, including floods, droughts, and powerful earthquakes that have devastated communities, destroyed farmland, and claimed numerous lives. In 2023 alone, floods swept through northern, eastern, and central regions, displacing hundreds and damaging the livelihoods of thousands who rely on agriculture. Afghanistan’s location, combined with its fragile infrastructure and lack of resources, renders it acutely vulnerable to the effects of climate change.

Beyond the immediate losses caused by such catastrophes, Afghanistan faces long-term threats to food security and water access, exacerbated by the country’s economic isolation and limited infrastructure. Climate change experts argue that Afghanistan needs global cooperation and support to implement sustainable practices and fortify its environment, yet the Taliban’s contested rule has largely barred the country from joining these international dialogues.

In the lead-up to COP29, Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency issued a statement underscoring the significance of the conference for Afghanistan. The agency urged that “political issues should not impede participation in addressing global humanitarian concerns,” highlighting the Taliban’s position that climate change is a crisis that transcends political divisions. Khalis, who leads the delegation, echoed this view, stating that climate change should be addressed “as a humanitarian issue.”

This sentiment reflects the Taliban’s aspirations to gain international engagement on shared concerns, even if political differences remain. Afghanistan previously participated in the global climate conversation through the Paris Agreement, which it signed in 2015. That agreement aimed to limit global temperature increases and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a commitment that Afghanistan had worked toward until the Taliban takeover.

Since returning to power, however, the Taliban has struggled to assert itself on the international stage, with no country yet formally recognizing its government. Nevertheless, the Taliban has attempted to emphasize that climate change poses an existential risk not only to Afghans but to people worldwide, in hopes that this shared crisis might transcend its lack of formal recognition. With this participation, the Taliban seeks to affirm Afghanistan’s stake in global climate action while navigating the complexities of its political standing.

Azerbaijan’s decision to host COP29 may be a strategic move to bolster its own diplomatic position and influence. Azerbaijan reopened its embassy in Kabul in early 2024, marking a step toward closer engagement with the Taliban administration, even as it stops short of formal recognition. Azerbaijan’s willingness to engage with Afghanistan highlights the increasingly complex diplomatic landscape, where countries may balance practical engagement with official recognition in response to geopolitical pressures.

Although Azerbaijan’s reopening of diplomatic channels with Afghanistan has not led to official recognition, the move reflects a pragmatic approach to regional stability and cooperation. By inviting the Taliban to COP29, Azerbaijan sets a precedent for including contested or non-recognized governments in multilateral forums, potentially signaling openness to depoliticizing climate-related dialogues for the sake of broader inclusion.

The Taliban’s attendance at COP29 raises questions about the role of inclusivity in global efforts to combat climate change. While Afghanistan’s delegation will participate in discussions on environmental protection and climate mitigation, it remains to be seen how their involvement will influence policy recommendations or commitments. The United Nations, which has not recognized the Taliban as Afghanistan’s legitimate government, now faces the complex task of balancing humanitarian concerns with the diplomatic implications of inviting a non-recognized government to the global stage.

For international stakeholders, the Taliban’s participation may evoke ambivalence. On one hand, Afghanistan’s contribution to discussions on climate change is imperative; the country’s environmental challenges are a shared consequence of global emissions and climate shifts, affecting millions of vulnerable Afghans. On the other hand, the Taliban’s record on human rights and governance continues to spark concern, with some questioning whether its participation at COP29 signals a broader trend toward international acceptance.

Despite these political tensions, COP29’s focus on humanitarian concerns could signal an openness to separating climate issues from formal diplomatic recognition, allowing vulnerable populations to benefit from global assistance. Afghanistan’s case may set a new precedent for including other non-recognized governments in international forums where humanitarian crises demand urgent cooperation.

Afghanistan’s environmental needs are immense and require not only domestic policies but substantial international support. The country has limited resources to combat environmental degradation, a situation worsened by economic isolation and a lack of foreign aid since 2021. Afghanistan’s agriculture-based economy is under threat as climate-related disasters like droughts and floods increase in frequency and intensity. For Afghanistan, COP29 offers a platform to advocate for technical support, sustainable agriculture practices, and resource management initiatives that could make the country more resilient against future climate risks.

The Taliban delegation’s participation may not yield direct policy support, given Afghanistan’s lack of formal international recognition. However, raising awareness of Afghanistan’s environmental situation and needs on a global platform could generate interest among non-governmental organizations, international aid bodies, and countries that are willing to provide humanitarian support independent of political affiliations.

The international community faces a complex choice in its approach to the Taliban at events like COP29. The inclusion of Afghanistan’s delegation without official recognition acknowledges that climate change impacts all, regardless of governance status. Yet it also challenges the conventions of international diplomacy, where recognition and legitimacy often determine who participates in multilateral dialogue.

The Taliban’s participation highlights a potential shift in how global crises might be addressed: by prioritizing humanitarian over political considerations. Climate change, which disproportionately affects the world’s poorest and most vulnerable populations, might serve as a common ground where cooperation transcends recognition issues. However, if international bodies expand this inclusive approach to non-recognized governments, they may need to adopt formal protocols to guide these interactions, ensuring they balance humanitarian needs with diplomatic principles.

As Afghanistan grapples with severe environmental challenges, the Taliban’s participation in COP29 is a notable development that underscores the urgency of including all affected regions in the global climate discourse. While the political context surrounding the Taliban’s attendance remains sensitive, the humanitarian basis of their appeal offers an opportunity for a re-evaluation of inclusivity in international climate discussions.

For Afghanistan, the path forward is complex, but COP29 marks a significant step toward securing international support in the face of climate threats. Whether this engagement translates into tangible aid or collaborative action remains uncertain, but the global community’s response to Afghanistan’s participation could shape the future of climate cooperation in politically complex scenarios.

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