World leaders including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the United Nations Conference of the Parties (commonly called Cop).
The annual gathering has been held in various locations since the first Cop summit in Berlin in 1995. Prime ministers, presidents and various government figures from around the world come together to discuss climate change action.
This event is attended by representatives from United Nations member states — and among them this year, for the first time, are members of the Taliban from Afghanistan.
So what does their presence mean for Cop29?
Why are the Taliban at Cop29?
The reason for their attendance is pretty straightforward: the Islamist group is in government in Afghanistan.
However, their status within the UN is slightly more complicated.
Although Afghanistan has been a UN member since 1946, the UN does not officially recognise the Taliban government. This is due mostly to its restrictions on women’s rights. The UN has not allowed the government to take its country’s seat at the General Assembly.
The Taliban seized power in August 2021, having launched an offensive as US-led foreign forces were withdrawing from Afghanistan. Their totalitarian government has brought in several laws that human rights charities and groups — and world leaders — have criticised.
Many of these laws and regulations have reduced women’s rights. After a December 2022 ruling declared women could not attend university, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned: “The world is watching.”
More recently, the Taliban has banned women from singing in public and looking at men who are not their relatives.
Mr Starmer’s office said he had “no plans” to meet with the Taliban delegation at Cop29.
What have the Taliban said about attending Cop29?
In a post on X, the Taliban’s National Environmental Protection Agency said a delegation had been sent to the summit.
The agency’s head, Matiul Haq Khalis, has said they would use the conference to strengthen cooperation with the international community on environmental protection and climate change.
He told the Associated Press that Afghanistan needs support to deal with extreme weather, including flash floods and prolonged droughts.
“All the countries must join hands and tackle the problem of climate change,” Mr Khalis said.
How has climate change impacted Afghanistan?
A study previously placed Afghanistan sixth on a list of the countries most impacted by climate change.
The research highlighted that in 2019 alone, heavy rainfall caused floods and landslides affecting about 120,00 people and destroying 12,000 homes. More than 75 people died. This came less than a year after severe droughts.
In the years since Afghanistan has faced numerous other weather events and natural disasters that have caused fatalities. In 2023, severe flash flooding killed more than 300 people and destroyed more than 1,000 homes.
