Taliban to attend UN Climate Conference for first time after annexing Afghanistan

The 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP29, was on Monday inaugurated in Baku, which is the capital of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has extended an invitation to Afghanistan though no country recognises the Taliban rule.

Despite not acknowledging the Taliban administration, Azerbaijan reopened its embassy in Kabul.

The Taliban officials have said political isolation should not prevent Afghanistan from taking part in important discussions.

"Climate change is a humanitarian issue," said Zainulabedin Abid, deputy head of Afghanistan's National Environment Protection Agency (NEPA) as quoted by The Times of India.

"We have called on the international community not to link climate change matters with politics," Abid added.

Delegates of about 200 countries will be participating in COP29, which will run till November 22.

This year's climate summit is being held in the shadow of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened to undo carbon-cutting commitments.

In his opening speech at COP29, UN climate chief Simon Stiell said as quoted by Al Jazeera, "Here in Baku, we must agree to a new global climate finance goal. If at least two thirds of the world’s nations cannot afford to cut emissions quickly, then every nation pays a brutal price."

"Let’s dispense with any idea that climate finance is charity," Stiell added.