The Taliban in Baku: Balancing Climate Action with Political Controversy
Alex Blackburn | 26 November 2024
Summary
The Taliban attended COP29 as observers, highlighting Afghanistan’s severe climate challenges and need for global support.
Their inclusion raised concerns about engaging with a regime criticised for human rights abuses.
Rising debates over cooperation depend on balancing global expectations with domestic policies.
For the first time since their return to power in 2021, the Taliban has sent a delegation to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. Afghanistan, long ranked as one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, faces dire environmental challenges, including erratic rainfall, prolonged droughts and catastrophic flash floods. Earlier this year, flash floods in northern Afghanistan killed over 350 people, displaced 5,000 families, and damaged nearly 8,000 homes, underscoring the urgency of addressing climate-related disasters.
Despite its critical need for international support, Afghanistan’s representation in global forums has been limited since the Taliban seized power. The group remains unrecognised by the United Nations and the broader international community, primarily due to its restrictive policies on women’s rights. These include bans on female education, public singing, travel without a male guardian, and policies widely criticised by human rights organisations and foreign governments. However, host nation Azerbaijan extended an invitation to the Taliban’s National Environmental Protection Agency, allowing them to attend COP29 as observers. This move reflects an acknowledgement of the importance of including Afghanistan in discussions about global climate action with the potential normalisation of relations between the Taliban and the global community.
The inclusion of the Taliban at COP29 raises complex questions about the intersection of environmental cooperation and political legitimacy. On one hand, Afghanistan’s climate crisis is a global issue, and excluding it from international forums risks worsening its humanitarian and environmental disasters. Climate change does not respect borders, and Afghanistan’s geographic vulnerabilities - exacerbated by decades of war and underdevelopment - demand a collaborative approach. Muti-ul-Haq Khalis, head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, used the platform to highlight the country’s need for international support in developing renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind and solar power, while also emphasising the importance of global cooperation in combating climate change. The delegation’s observer status allowed them to participate in periphery discussions and seek bilateral meetings with other countries, including Western states who previously participated in their deposition. However, it provided the delegation with little power to influence the goals and decisions made at the conference, reflecting their limited recognition within the United Nations. However, the Taliban’s participation also highlights the tension between urgent global challenges and moral imperatives. Critics argue that allowing the Taliban to engage in high-profile international events risks legitimising a regime accused of severe human rights abuses. Many nations remain unwilling to engage formally with the Taliban government due to its policies, particularly its treatment of women.
The Taliban’s participation at COP29 could set a precedent for future interactions with the international community, particularly on issues transcending political boundaries, like climate change. Afghanistan’s delegation signalled a willingness to cooperate on shared global challenges, potentially opening pathways for a limited engagement with the Taliban on technical and humanitarian grounds. However, the extent to which the Taliban can integrate into international climate efforts without addressing its human rights record remains uncertain. The more ‘liberal’ nations may use such platforms to press for reforms, leveraging Afghanistan’s need for assistance to encourage policy changes, particularly regarding women’s rights.
In the long term, Afghanistan’s environmental vulnerabilities will necessitate sustained international support. Whether the Taliban’s presence at COP29 leads to meaningful collaboration or further isolates the regime will depend on its willingness to balance its domestic policies with global expectations., COP29 marks a cautious step toward addressing Afghanistan’s climate crisis amidst its political isolation.
Malia Zerak/Flickr
Forecast
Short-term
As the Taliban regime further cements its power over Afghanistan, there will be a continued effort to normalise relations with the nation, an effort spearheaded by Afghanistan’s direct neighbours. This has already been witnessed through trade negotiations with Pakistan and the removal of the Taliban from Russia’s terrorist watchlist, despite the further decreases in human rights within the state. Due to their recent history, it is unlikely that any NATO-associated state will provide any outreach for the new Afghanistan soon.
Long-term
As Afghanistan’s climate crisis escalates, the global community will likely face growing pressure to include Afghanistan in additional climate initiatives, given the cross-border nature of environmental issues. This will most likely include more affluent NATO-affiliated states, who may explore limited engagement with the Taliban, focusing on technical and humanitarian collaboration, while maintaining pressure for policy reforms.