Afghanistan's Taliban to Join U. N. Climate Talks

For the first time since seizing power, the Taliban will be present at a major international climate conference. The event, COP29, kicks off in Azerbaijan this Monday. Although the Taliban's rule in Afghanistan is not widely recognized, the country's environment agency announced a delegation will attend. The purpose? To boost cooperation with other nations on environmental protection and climate change. Experts point out that Afghanistan is greatly impacted by climate change, with rising temperatures causing water shortages and droughts that hurt farming and food security. It's no surprise then that the conference offers a chance for Afghanistan to seek help and funding to tackle these challenges. According to reports, over half of Afghanistan's population is already grappling with severe drought conditions. The country even has the highest number of children left homeless due to climate disasters. Professors at Kabul University believe the conference can help Afghanistan demonstrate its commitment to combating climate change, which could improve the country's standing in the global community.