Statement of the National Environmental Protection Agency's Regarding the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-30)

The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), on behalf of the Government and people of Afghanistan, expresses deep concern over the fact that, despite Afghanistan being one of the most climate-vulnerable countries, it has unfortunately not received an official invitation to participate in the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which will be held in Brazil.
Climate change is a global phenomenon that knows no boundaries, and its impacts are not limited to a specific geography or region. Alongside natural factors, the main driver of climate change has been the industrialized and developed countries that have followed the path of greenhouse gas emissions and achieved economic growth, which has been the main cause of the climate-related damage faced by least developed countries like Afghanistan. Afghanistan ranks as the sixth most affected country globally by the negative impacts of climate change.
Our people are facing severe challenges, including droughts, floods, melting glaciers, reduced agricultural productivity, landslides, loss of biodiversity, and forced migration caused by climate change. Additionally, factors such as the country's dry and semi-arid climate, an economy reliant on natural resources, topography, exacerbation of natural disasters, and the environmental destruction resulting from four decades of war have led to the intensification of climate-related events.
The National Environmental Protection Agency, in coordination with national and international bodies and other relevant organizations, had made full preparations to facilitate the participation of Afghanistan’s delegation in COP30, to raise awareness about the vulnerabilities of the Afghan people to climate change, to highlight the disregard for the environmental rights of the Afghan people, and to bring attention to their exclusion from global climate finance. However, the exclusion of the Afghan people from the right to participate in this conference contradicts the principles of climate justice, global cooperation, and human solidarity.
Afghanistan remains committed to its obligations under the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
It is important to note that in recent years, without receiving financial or technical assistance from global climate finance mechanisms, Afghanistan, in cooperation with relevant institutions, has finalized its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-02), completed the Kigali Amendment plan, and formulated the National Climate Change Strategy. Additionally, work continues on the completion of Afghanistan's third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC-03) under the Paris Agreement.
We call on the United Nations, the international community, and relevant organizations to recognize Afghanistan's legitimate rights and to ensure the participation of Afghanistan’s delegation in such global meetings and conferences so that the voices of millions of Afghans affected by climate change can be heard by the world.
The failure to invite Afghanistan’s delegation to this conference and other similar meetings demonstrates that the United Nations is not upholding global justice for the Afghan people in the area of climate change. The people of Afghanistan had the right to participate in this global forum and defend their rights.
Afghanistan emphasizes the principles of climate justice, global cooperation, and environmental protection and is ready to play an active role in global efforts to combat climate change.
National Environmental Protection Agency of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan