Climate Change Impacts in Afghanistan and Role of International Community

By: Engineer Danish

Recent Floods in Afghanistan have caused significant devastation and loss of life. In April, 2024 heavy rains and floods in Badghis, Farah, Helmand, Kabul, Kandahar, Laghman, Nangahar, Parwan and Uruzgan provinces resulted in over 100 loss of lives, 54 injuries, and the destruction of thousands of houses and agricultural land. The floods affected more than 25,000 families and caused damage to nearly 1,000 houses.

In May, further flooding claimed the lives of 347 people and injured 1,651 others.

Baghlan Province was particularly affected, with 300 deaths and extensive destruction of houses. Takhar, Herat, Badakhshan, and Ghor provinces also experienced casualties and damages. In July, intense storms led to flooding in Nangarhar Province, causing the death of 47 individuals and destroying hundreds of homes. Kunar Province also suffered from flooding, resulting in the loss of five lives and significant damage to houses and roads. These events highlight the ongoing challenges faced by Afghanistan due to climate change.

The government has taken swift and effective action in response to all the natural disaster and floods mobilizing all available resources to assist the affected citizens in their time of need. Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the government has deployed emergency response teams, medical personnel, and aid supplies to provide immediate assistance to those impacted by the disaster. They have also prioritized the reconstruction efforts, focusing on repairing damaged infrastructure and restoring essential services.

The international community should play crucial role in addressing the effects of climate change on Afghanistan, particularly when those effects are primarily caused by the actions of other developed countries. Recognizing the global nature of climate change and the shared responsibility to address it, the international community engages in various areas to support Afghanistan.

1. Reconstruction: As Afghanistan faces climate change-induced disasters and extreme weather events, the international community can provide assistance in post-disaster reconstruction efforts. This includes financial support, technical expertise, and resources to help rebuild critical infrastructure, homes, and communities. By contributing to reconstruction efforts, the international community can helps Afghanistan recover from the damages inflicted by climate change-related impacts.

2. Risk Mitigation: The international community can collaborates with Afghanistan to develop and implement effective risk mitigation strategies. This involves sharing knowledge, best practices, and innovative technologies to enhance early warning systems, strengthen disaster preparedness, and improve adaptive capacities. To reduce the vulnerability of Afghanistan to climate-related risks and build resilience in the face of future challenges.

3. Addressing the Root Causes: Recognizing that climate change is primarily driven by greenhouse gas emissions, the international community should focus on addressing the root causes of climate change. Through global climate negotiations and agreements, countries commit to reducing emissions and transitioning to sustainable and low-carbon economies. Developed countries, in particular, should take ambitious actions to mitigate their emissions and support developing nations like Country A in their climate change efforts.

4. Financial Assistance: Developed countries and international financial institutions can play a crucial role in providing financial assistance to support climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts in Afghanistan. This includes funding for projects that promote climate resilience, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and other climate-related initiatives.

5. Technology Transfer and Capacity Building: The international community can facilitates the transfer of climate-friendly technologies to Afghanistan, assisting in the adoption of clean and sustainable practices. This includes sharing knowledge, expertise, and technological advancements in areas such as and climate-smart agriculture. Capacity-building initiatives should also be implemented to enhance Afghanistan’s technical skills and capabilities in addressing climate change impacts.

Through these collective efforts in reconstruction, risk mitigation, addressing root causes, financial assistance, and technology transfer, the international community can support Afghanistan in addressing the effects of climate change caused primarily by the actions of other developed countries.