As the 2022 climate change conference – COP27- starts in Egypt, the United Nations has called for immediate collective action to halt the destructive impacts of climate change in Afghanistan. The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator has encouraged the Taliban to take the threats of climate change seriously.
UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) published a statement on Sunday, November 6, saying that “the people of Afghanistan stand on a precipice of devastating climate projections.”
Meanwhile, with the opening of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP27), UNAMA has called for immediate collective action to halt the destructive impacts of climate change in Afghanistan.
According to UNAMA, “Afghanistan is one of the least prepared countries for climate shocks, but it is ranked the sixth most affected in the world to climate-related threats.”
The statement by UNAMA states, “Afghanistan is currently prone to frequent natural disasters that cause loss and damage to lives, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure.”
“It is ordinary Afghans who suffer the most when these shocks occur,” said Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and the Humanitarian Coordinator of this organization.
“It is devastating to see the most vulnerable Afghan bear the brunt of environmental disasters”, added Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov.
According to UNAMA, “Afghanistan has already witnessed several years of drought ravage communities across rural areas and the intense flooding earlier this year provided a snapshot of what is likely to come.”
He believes that Afghans alone cannot face this challenge. He said, “I equally encourage the international community and donors to think boldly and creatively on long-term adaption support for Afghanistan.”
He stressed, “Regardless of political hurdles, Afghanistan cannot be left out of climate financing.”
Dr. Ramiz Alakbarov emphasized, “climate change challenges are not specific to Afghanistan.” He warned that “It is a larger regional issue and not acting in Afghanistan now will create considerable setbacks in climate action for the entire region”.
