KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations has not invited the Taliban to the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Turkey, leaving the group’s delegation excluded from the global summit for the second consecutive year.
Taliban-affiliated Radio Hurriyat, citing officials from the group’s National Environmental Protection Agency, reported that the Taliban delegation would not attend the summit because it had not received an official invitation from the UN.
The outlet said Turkey, which is hosting COP31, had invited the Taliban to attend the summit as guests. However, without an invitation from the UN, the group said it would not take part.
COP31 opened on Monday in the Turkish city of Antalya, bringing together representatives from countries around the world and international organizations. The summit is scheduled to continue until November 20.
The meeting is the latest round of annual UN climate negotiations, where governments discuss efforts to limit global warming, adapt to its impacts, and provide support to countries most affected by climate change.
The Taliban attended the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024 for the first time, participating as guests and observers. However, the group was not invited to COP30, which was held in Brazil in 2025.
Afghanistan is widely regarded as one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions. Its economy depends heavily on agriculture, which is highly sensitive to shifts in rainfall, drought, and temperature.
The country continues to grapple with prolonged droughts, flash floods and harsh winters, which have damaged crops, reduced water availability and displaced communities. Humanitarian agencies have warned that climate shocks are exacerbating food insecurity and deepening economic hardship.
The absence of a Taliban delegation from the climate summit means Afghanistan will once again lack formal representation in global climate negotiations, despite being among the countries most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
