Sharm el-Sheikh, 8 November 2022 (TDI): Afghanistan considers the COP27; the twenty-seventh session of the Conference of the Parties held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt as the first step toward resolving the world’s present climate difficulties.
This objective was shared by Abdul Qahar Balkhi, the spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Afghanistan through a statement.
Balkhi stated that these shared challenges cannot be overcome without mutual understanding and combined efforts.
Since the effects of climate change run across political lines, it is necessary to separate political considerations from countermeasures
Afghanistan is disproportionately affected, even though the effects of the climate crisis are felt everywhere. It is the third lowest in the world for CO2 emissions per person and per year with 0.2 metric tons.
Moreover, Afghanistan is ranked as the 15th most climate change-vulnerable nation. Disasters have a devastating effect on Afghans as 80% of the population depends on agriculture for survival and there is a lack of preparedness for climate emergencies.
This increases the already severe levels of food insecurity, forces people to flee their homes, and results in the loss of livelihoods.
The Spokesperson stated that the nations like Afghanistan which have not negatively contributed to climate change but are already experiencing its harmful effects, must not be disregarded in the conference.
He further stated that Afghanistan has lost more than two billion dollars as a result of climate change’s harmful effects this year.
Balkhi said that according to the national priorities of Afghanistan, the international community must continue to extend its development support until it reaches economic stability to recover, avert possible losses, and foster community resilience.
Likewise, the effects of climate change are beyond the capacity of nations like Afghanistan to handle on their own, but the long-term problems climate change creates for Afghan communities are extremely dangerous.
Furthermore, the international world must remember that frontline nations in this crisis include Afghanistan. So, the countries least able to adapt to global warming must receive urgent financial assistance.
