Afghanistan is grappling not only with political and economic crises but also with the challenges of climate change. Declining groundwater levels, devastating floods, rising temperatures, reduced rainfall, untimely rains, and changes in humidity are all recognized signs of climate change in Afghanistan. Recently, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) expressed concern about the weather changes in Afghanistan. According to the organization, 67% of families in Afghanistan are facing drought-related problems, and 16% of the country’s areas are affected by floods. However, the United States Embassy for Afghanistan has stated that this country is at the forefront of combating climate change and joint efforts should be made in this regard. On the other hand, the Taliban have announced a three-day conference on climate change with the participation of representatives from governmental institutions and international organizations. They have urged the global community to resume suspended projects related to climate change and to consider technical and financial assistance separately from political issues.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has stated that Afghanistan is struggling with severe climate change. This organization emphasized yesterday, on “Earth Day,” that Afghanistan is suffering from drought and climate change, and effective steps should be taken to support this country.
The UNDP program has declared that 67% of families in Afghanistan are facing problems due to drought, and 16% are affected by floods. According to this organization, currently, 79% of families in this country do not have access to safe drinking water.
The United Nations has commemorated Earth Day in Afghanistan by planting trees on its premises, urging all citizens of Afghanistan to take action to protect the planet and create a greener future.
Meanwhile, Karen Decker, the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Afghanistan, has stated on social media X (formerly Twitter) that Afghanistan is at the forefront of the fight against climate change. She wrote, “Small actions lead to big differences, and Afghanistan is leading the fight against climate change. Let’s work together to reverse the damaging effects of climate change and create a better future.”
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) previously stated in a separate report that Afghanistan ranked sixth among climate-vulnerable countries in 2023 and fourth in overall natural disaster risk.
According to this report, Afghanistan experienced a 1.8-degree Celsius temperature increase from 1950 to 2023, surpassing the global average of 1.5 degrees Celsius. This temperature change has had a devastating impact on agriculture, the agricultural value chain, and the economic backbone of the country, exacerbating the effects of conflict, poverty, and displacement.
The UNDP further added that the poorest and most vulnerable individuals bear the brunt of the climate crisis in Afghanistan. Referring to UN research on Afghanistan’s complex challenges, it emphasized that drought, floods, land degradation, and declining agricultural productivity are among the most serious threats in the country.
According to a United Nations report, over 80% of Afghanistan’s population relies on natural resources for livelihood, while only 12% of the land is cultivable, with 6% currently under cultivation. Climate change poses a threat to reducing access to and the quality of water, soil, and agricultural products, endangering the lives of millions, and putting them at risk of hunger and malnutrition.
The United Nations Development Programme stated: “Floods are a recurrent threat to Afghanistan, causing approximately $400 million in economic damages annually, affecting an average of 335,000 people due to inadequate infrastructure. Additionally, displacement due to drought has reached alarming levels.”
Based on the findings of this report, 85% of Afghanistan’s population lives in environmentally unsafe conditions with limited resilience to climate hazards. According to the report, Afghanistan experienced the highest climate-induced displacement from 2021 to 2023, with 2.3 million people forced to leave their homes due to drought. The organization stressed the need for urgent action to build resilience, ensure climate justice, and place Afghanistan at the center of collective efforts to address these challenges.
Previously, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) stated that out of every 10 individuals, 8 consume unsafe water in Afghanistan, and 93% of children live in areas highly vulnerable to water-related risks.
The Taliban media center has reported that a special session on climate change in Afghanistan was held for three days with the participation of representatives from governmental institutions and international organizations.
According to Taliban sources, participants discussed the damages and adverse effects of climate change in Afghanistan and called for the resumption of suspended projects in the field of climate change. The Taliban urged international organizations not to involve political issues in climate discussions and to restart environmental projects currently on hold.
The Taliban stated that recurring droughts, floods, water shortages, and agricultural product deficiencies have created significant challenges for the people of Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for collective global action to address climate change challenges.
Previously, organizations such as the World Food Programme, the World Health Organization, the Islamic Relief Organization, Save the Children International, and World Vision International had warned of worsening climatic conditions in Afghanistan. A joint statement by these organizations stated that at least 25 provinces in Afghanistan are facing severe drought.
Concerns about climate change in Afghanistan have escalated, especially as the Ministry of State for Disaster Management, under Taliban control, announced that recent floods in the country have claimed 70 lives, resulted in the loss of over 600 livestock, and caused extensive damage to agricultural lands and 2,627 residential homes.
You can read the Persian article here:
«روز زمین» و رنج زمینداران افغانستان؛ تغییرات اقلیمی کشور را تهدید میکند
