For the first time since the Taliban regained power in 2021, Afghanistan has sent a delegation to the United Nations climate talks in Baku, Azerbaijan. The head of Afghanistan’s environment protection agency, Matuil Haq Khalis, emphasized the country's urgent need for international assistance in addressing the impacts of climate change, such as erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts, and flash floods.
A recent assessment by climate experts ranked Afghanistan as the sixth most climate vulnerable country globally. The country experienced devastating consequences of extreme weather, with heavy rains in March causing flash floods that claimed over 300 lives. Climate scientists have observed a 25% increase in the intensity of rainfall over the past four decades in Afghanistan.
