Taliban government officials will attend the upcoming United Nations climate summit (COP) as observers for the second time. The summit is scheduled to take place next week in the city of Antalya, Turkey, and the Taliban's presence, albeit as observers, has drawn international attention.
Rohullah Amin, head of the climate change division at Afghanistan's National Environmental Protection Agency, which is under Taliban control, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that an official from the group plans to attend. A Turkish official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also confirmed the Taliban delegation's attendance as observers.
This marks the second time the Taliban have participated in such a summit since taking power in 2021. Their first appearance was at the climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, two years ago. However, the United Nations has not yet recognized the Taliban government, and Afghanistan's seat at the UN General Assembly is still held by a representative of the previous government.
The Taliban's severe restrictions on women's education and work are among the primary reasons for the group's lack of international recognition. Consequently, member countries of the climate conferences have postponed decisions on Afghanistan's official representation, effectively sidelining the country from key negotiations. Observer status allows the Taliban to attend meetings but not participate in formal decision-making.
Afghanistan is one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change, facing multiple crises such as drought, water scarcity, and devastating floods. According to the International Organization for Migration, from April to December 2025, over 1.6 million people across the country were forced to leave their homes due to the impacts of climate change.
The Taliban argue that the people of Afghanistan must be represented at climate summits and have access to international climate finance to address these crises. In contrast, critics argue that any engagement with the Taliban should not imply recognition of their government.
Source: Associated Press
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