Afghanistan has presented its key environmental and climate-related priorities to international organisations and development partners, seeking stronger cooperation and support for environmental protection initiatives.

The priorities were outlined during the eighth meeting on aligning the priorities of Afghanistan’s sectoral institutions with international organisations, the United Nations and development partners, held at the Marble Palace.

The meeting was organised by the Public Relations Directorate of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office for Economic Affairs, with the National Environmental Protection Agency presenting its key areas of focus.

These include developing a climate change information system, assessing climate vulnerabilities, expanding green spaces, promoting tree planting and monitoring greenhouse gas emissions and ozone-depleting substances.

The meeting aimed to improve coordination between Afghanistan’s institutions and international partners, ensuring future development assistance reflects the country’s environmental needs.

Representatives of international organisations and donor agencies welcomed the initiative and said the priorities would be considered in their future cooperation with Afghanistan.

The discussions form part of broader efforts to strengthen international coordination on environmental protection and address the country’s growing climate-related challenges.

Matiul Haq Khalis, head of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), has travelled to Malaysia with a delegation to participate in the Global Environmental Education Conference (EEC 2026), focusing on environmental awareness, climate resilience and international cooperation.

According to the agency, the conference is scheduled to take place on October 27 and 28 in Kuching, the capital of Malaysia’s Sarawak state.

The conference aims to explore innovative approaches to environmental education, raise public awareness about environmental protection, strengthen communities’ resilience to climate change and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among participating countries.

The Afghan delegation is expected to share the country’s experiences and proposals in environmental education and waste management with representatives from other countries, while seeking opportunities for cooperation with international organizations, the agency said.

Representatives and experts from various countries and organizations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), are also expected to attend the conference.

Afghanistan’s participation is intended to promote knowledge-sharing and explore potential international partnerships in environmental protection, waste management and climate resilience.

Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, has called for Afghanistan to have fair access to international financial and technical assistance to combat climate change and reduce losses caused by natural disasters.

Speaking at a ceremony marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, Baradar said Afghanistan continues to suffer from the effects of climate change despite having no significant role in greenhouse gas emissions or global climate degradation.

He added that Afghanistan suffered severe social and economic losses last year due to earthquakes, seasonal floods and droughts. These disasters caused casualties and extensive financial losses, as well as damage to public infrastructure.

Emphasizing the need for climate justice, Baradar said: “It is inconsistent with the principles of global climate justice that we have no role in creating the problem, yet must bear its severe consequences and pay the price for the destruction caused by others.”

He urged the international community, the United Nations and climate-related organizations not to allow political considerations to interfere with efforts to combat climate change.

Baradar said climate change affects everyone and that protecting the global climate is a shared responsibility of all countries, without exception.

He stressed that fair access to international financial and technical assistance to reduce losses caused by natural disasters and climate change is Afghanistan’s right.

The Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs also called on the international community to provide practical assistance by supplying modern meteorological equipment, early warning systems, advanced rescue equipment and support to strengthen Afghanistan’s technical capacity.

He further said the Islamic Emirate had made significant efforts to construct buildings that meet standards for resilience against natural disasters, build standard retaining walls to control water flows, and protect and restore forests. He added that these efforts would continue.