An Afghan delegation will attend the upcoming United Nations climate change summit in Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry spokesperson told Agence France-Presse on Saturday, marking a first since the Taliban government came to power.
“A delegation of the Afghan government will be in Baku” for the COP29 summit, which opens on Monday in the Azerbaijani capital, said the spokesperson, Abdul Qahar Balkhi.
It was not immediately clear in what capacity the delegation would participate at COP29, but sources indicated it would have observer status.
Afghanistan is ranked as the country sixth most vulnerable to climate change and Taliban authorities have pushed for the government’s participation in COP summits, saying their political isolation shouldn’t bar them from international climate talks.
No state has recognized the Taliban authorities since they swept to power in 2021, ousting the Western-backed administration.
Officials from the country’s National Environmental Protection Agency have repeatedly said climate change should not be politicized and called for environment-related projects put on hold due to the Taliban takeover to be reinstated.
Azerbaijan, a fossil fuel-rich former Soviet republic wedged between Russia and Iran, will host the COP29 from November 11-22.
Baku reopened its embassy in Kabul in February this year, though it has not officially recognized the Taliban government.
