UN Pledges $10 Million to Support Afghanistan’s Fight Against Climate Change
The Taliban-led government has announced that United Nations development agencies have committed $10 million in aid to Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) to support efforts in combating climate change and restoring the country’s fragile environment.
According to an official statement from the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), financial backing has been secured for the project titled Community-Based Response to Climate Change through Forestry and Livelihood Improvement.
The statement highlights that the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have jointly approved two projects valued at $9.98 million.
These initiatives are scheduled to commence in July 2025 and continue until June 2029, focusing on Afghanistan’s Badakhshan and Kunar provinces. The projects aim to promote climate-resilient agricultural practices, rehabilitate degraded lands, support afforestation efforts, and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
Despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, Afghanistan is among the countries most severely affected by the consequences of climate change. The nation has endured persistent drought for over three decades and continues to face devastating floods due to irregular rainfall patterns.
The newly approved projects are expected to enhance Afghanistan’s preparedness against the adverse impacts of climate change and contribute to the partial restoration of its damaged environment.