In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate 
Excellency’s, Ladies and Gentlemen,  
I want to thank the UN Secretary-General Mr. Guterres, Prime Minister Johnson, President Macron, President Piñera and Prime Minister Conte for organizing and hosting this virtual 2020 Climate Ambition Summit. This summit itself is a crucial step toward achieving a carbon-neutral world.  
Afghanistan is one of the world’s countries that is most vulnerable to climate change.  
For one, the cycle of drought has drastically shortened, from a 33-year cycle to now a 5-year cycle. Our seasonal rainfall now comes in spring instead of winter, and with it, lethal floods and destructive erosion.  The southeastern part of our country is now believed to have gotten 1.5 degrees warmer in last 40 years. Deforestation has been rampant due to the last four decades of conflict.   
Afghanistan has tremendous potential for clean energy production and green industry. We have some of the most abundant supplies of sun, water, and wind. That, if harnessed, can collectively produce 300,000 megawatts of power.  
This green energy can power green industry in Afghanistan. Work is already underway. Multiple regional energy projects are underway, including the TAPI pipeline and the CASA-1000 transmission line. We are building hydropower stations across the country and scoping the potential for wind and solar.  We recently signed an agreement with Siemens Energy that positions us to become the regional hub for reliable, sustainable and affordable energy.  
We have the potential to serve as a platform for environmental cooperation and coordination across the region. Climate change is not a national problem, but a global one which requires regional and global problem solving.