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Climate Change

Afghanistan’s exclusion from COP28 ‘regrettable’, says NEPA

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(Last Updated On: November 30, 2023)

Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) expressed regret Thursday at the country not having been invited to send a representative to the UN’s climate conference, COP28, which is currently underway.

The annual Conference of Parties (COP) got underway on Thursday November 30 and will run through to December 12, where delegates from around the world will address the challenges posed by climate change.

In a statement issued by NEPA, the agency said: “Regrettably, Afghanistan’s delegates have not been extended an invitation to attend the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference scheduled to take place from November 30 to December 12, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

“Despite the National Environmental Protection Agency’s comprehensive efforts to advocate for Afghanistan’s stance and address the urgent needs of the Afghanistan’s climate-affected population, expedite the financial aid process from global climate finance mechanisms, submit Afghanistan’s National Determined Contribution (NDC) in accordance with the Paris Agreement, and revive halted environmental projects for presentation at the Conference of Parties (COP), Afghan delegates, regrettably, have not received invitations to the conference, purportedly due to political factors,” the statement read.

COP28 provides an “ideal platform for countries, particularly those most affected and vulnerable developing nations, to articulate their concerns and the threats they face due to climate change. Furthermore, it serves as a means for these countries to access financial and technical resources to address the impacts of climate change.

“Presently, global climate change and the associated phenomenon of global warming represent significant environmental challenges on a global scale, with discernible ramifications for Afghanistan.

“Despite Afghanistan’s minimal contribution of 0.08% to the global greenhouse gas emissions, in comparison to other nations, it remains one of the most susceptible countries to the deleterious impacts of climate change, being ranked sixth in terms of vulnerability,” the statement read.

NEPA went on to say the susceptibility of Afghanistan to the effects of climate change is poised to worsen the economic and social circumstances of its people.

“The occurrence of severe floods and unseasonal rains in Afghanistan has led to significant financial and human tolls. This state of affairs serves as a testament to the potential negative repercussions of the climate crisis, potentially giving rise to a humanitarian emergency,” NEPA said.

NEPA also stated that the exclusion of Afghanistan at COP28 poses significant constraints on the country’s access to financial mechanisms and the suspension of climate change adaptation projects in the country represents a grave injustice against the Afghan people.

NEPA said: “Despite its limited resources, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is dedicated to mitigating the impacts of climate change in pursuit of its predetermined objectives. We anticipate unwavering support from our international partners in addressing this global phenomenon in Afghanistan and expect the facilitation of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s representatives in international forums and conferences without the influence of political factors.”

Aid agencies meanwhile say climate-driven disasters are exacerbating Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis which has left about two-thirds of the country’s 40 million people needing assistance.

Analysts also warn that Afghanistan’s climate challenges could have global repercussions – fuelling mass migration and impacting water availability in neighboring countries.

But Afghanistan’s international isolation – no country formally recognises the IEA government – means it has been excluded from COP28.

Climate Change

Afghanistan a victim of climate change, says Muttaqi

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(Last Updated On: May 13, 2024)

The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amir Khan Muttaqi, met with Edem Wosornu, UNOCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy on Monday in Kabul and said although Afghanistan plays no role in the “destruction of the climate”, the country continues to suffer from this phenomenon.

Muttaqi appealed to countries contributing to the climate change problem to act responsibly as they are not doing anything in terms of compensating countries suffering the effects of climate change.

This comes just days after heavy rains claimed the lives of over 300 people in northern Afghanistan as flash floods hit the area.

Muttaqi meanwhile also said that Afghanistan should be allowed to participate at global climate change meetings and the country should have access to funding.

Wosornu in turn expressed her willingness to send UNOCHA teams to flood affected areas as soon as possible.

She also said they try to keep humanitarian needs and politics separate.

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Climate Change

Rescuers race to reach those trapped by floods in China’s Guangdong

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(Last Updated On: April 22, 2024)

WATCH: Rescuers on boats in China’s flood-ravaged Guangdong province raced to evacuate trapped residents, carrying some elderly people by piggyback from their homes and deploying helicopters to save villagers caught in rural landslides.

The southern Chinese province has been battered by unusually heavy, sustained and widespread rainfall since Thursday, with powerful storms ushering in an earlier-than-normal start to the region’s annual flooding season, Reuters reported.

Eleven people were missing in Guangdong by Monday morning, the state-owned Xinhua News Agency reported without giving further details.

Across the province, 53,741 people have been relocated, with 12,256 people being urgently resettled, Xinhua reported, citing the provincial government.

The cities of Shaoguan, Qingyuan, Zhaoqing and Jiangmen to the west and north of the provincial capital Guangzhou have been particularly hard hit.

In Qingyuan, houses and shops along the Bei River were submerged as the Pearl River tributary swelled, local media reported.

Aerial footage showed flood waters overwhelming a nearby town, leaving only roofs and treetops untouched.

Rescuers in Qingyuan tackled muddy waters, neck-high in some areas, to extract residents, including an elderly lady trapped in waist-deep water in an apartment building, videos on social media showed.

Other social media videos showed water gushing through roads and vehicles in disarray.

In Shaoguan, landslides trapped villagers who had to be rescued by helicopter while other rescuers traveled on foot to reach cut-off disaster sites, Reuters reported.

The Chinese military also stepped in to help clear roads.

The rains eased early on Monday, but some schools in the province were suspended.

Powerful thunderstorms are expected to return later in the week after a brief respite, marking an unusually early wet spell that is more typical in the months of May and June.

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Climate Change

Massive river flooding expected in China, threatening millions

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(Last Updated On: April 21, 2024)

Major rivers, waterways and reservoirs in China’s Guangdong province are threatening to unleash dangerous floods, forcing the government on Sunday to enact emergency response plans to protect more than 127 million people.

Calling the situation “grim”, local weather officials said sections of rivers and tributaries at the Xijiang and Beijiang river basins are hitting water levels in a rare spike that only has a one-in-50 chance of happening in any given year, state broadcaster CCTV news said on Sunday.

China’s water resource ministry issued an emergency advisory, CCTV reported.

Guangdong officials urged departments in all localities and municipalities to begin emergency planning to avert natural disasters and promptly disperse disaster relief funds and materials to ensure affected people have food, clothing, water and a place to live, Reuters reported.

The province, a major exporter and one of China’s main commercial and trading centers, has seen torrid downpours for several days and strong winds due to severe convective weather, which has also affected other parts of China.

A 12-hour stretch of heavy rain, starting from 8 p.m. (1200 GMT) Saturday, battered the central and northern parts of the province in the cities of Zhaoqing, Shaoguan, Qingyuan and Jiangmen.

Almost 20,000 people have been evacuated in Qingyuan, according to state media, and some power facilities in Zhaoqing were damaged, cutting power to some places, Reuters reported.

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