The IEA’s first-time attendance at COP29 is an attempt to draw attention to Afghanistan’s dire climate situation and the suspension of more than 30 climate-related projects since they assumed power in 2021. Funded by international donors, these projects were essential to addressing Afghanistan’s extreme climate vulnerabilities, for which the IEA have come to request climate aid.
With droughts, floods, and extreme weather worsening food insecurity, Afghanistan ranks among the top 10 most vulnerable nations to climate disasters, despite contributing minimally to global emissions. The IEA hope that by attending COP29, they might gain support to restart these projects and secure essential climate aid, even though they remain unrecognized as Afghanistan’s official government.
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COP29 itself brings to light the complex dynamics within global climate diplomacy. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer used the platform to reaffirm the UK’s goal of an 81% emissions cut by 2035. While this target is ambitious, it is not entirely new; rather, it underscores the UK’s ongoing commitments and highlights its desire to be seen as a climate leader. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev defended fossil fuels as a “gift of God,” adding tension to Baku’s hosting of COP29, given the country’s strong ties to oil and gas. This stance stands in contrast to the summit’s central goal of curbing fossil fuel dependence to limit global warming to 1.5°C, a key objective of the Paris Agreement.
Afghanistan’s presence at COP29 raises ethical questions for the international community about supporting climate-vulnerable nations under unrecognized governments. For Afghanistan, support would be a lifeline, but for the IEA, it may be a step toward legitimacy. COP29, therefore, reflects a broader challenge: how to respond to immediate climate needs while navigating complex political realities, particularly with the mixed ambitions of resource-rich countries that benefit from fossil fuel dependence even as they negotiate climate commitments.
PAYF Insights are social media threads by various authors, reproduced here for wider consumption.
