Afghanistan, left out of COP-28, hopes for inclusion in COP-29
- Afghanistan, highly vulnerable to climate change, was omitted from the COP-28 climate summit for the third consecutive year.
Key Points
- Exclusion follows the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021, with no formal recognition from foreign governments and no seat at the U.N. General Assembly.
Reasons for Exclusion
- Taliban's restrictions on women, particularly the ban on girls and women from high school and universities, cited as the primary reason for international isolation.
- Lack of recognition of the Taliban leadership by any foreign government contributes to Afghanistan's exclusion from UN talks.
UNFCCC Decision and Taliban Response
- The UNFCCC COP Bureau deferred a decision on Afghanistan's representation at the November 2022 meeting.
Impact on Women and Food Insecurity
- Women, constituting a significant portion of the 20 million Afghans facing severe food insecurity, are adversely affected.
Climate Funds and Projects on Hold
- Taliban-led Afghanistan unable to access key UN climate funds, including the Green Climate Fund (GCF).
- GCF had approved nearly $18 million for a sustainable energy project before the Taliban takeover, now on hold for risk review.
Prelims Takeaway
- Green Climate Fund
- UNFCCC