UN Excludes Taliban From Global Climate Summit In Brazil
The United Nations has not invited the Taliban to the two-week global climate summit that opened Monday in Belém, Brazil, with delegates from more than 190 countries in attendance.
The United Nations has not invited the Taliban to the two-week global climate summit that opened Monday in Belém, Brazil, with delegates from more than 190 countries in attendance.
The Taliban’s National Environmental Protection Agency said Afghanistan is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and argued that its exclusion runs counter to principles of climate justice and international cooperation.
In a statement issued Sunday, the agency said it was “deeply concerned” about being left out of this year’s UN climate conference and insisted that it remains committed to international partnerships and has prepared national documents related to climate mitigation.
The Taliban body said Afghanistan is experiencing a rise in climate-related disasters, including droughts, floods, storms, soil erosion, and deforestation, factors it said have worsened poverty and driven internal displacement.
The statement added that the Taliban considers itself committed to obligations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement.
The 30th UN Climate Change Conference is being held in Brazil from 10 to 21 November. Last year’s summit in Azerbaijan included participation by Taliban representatives.
The Taliban’s environment agency said that excluding Afghanistan from this year’s gathering violates the principles of climate justice, global cooperation, and human solidarity.
