Afghanistan: Climate Crisis in Afghanistan: Melting Glaciers and a 30 Percent Drop in Foothill Snow Survival

Mar 24, 2025 | Amin Kawa, Hasht-e-Subh Daily
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The melting of glaciers and climate change in Afghanistan represent a silent crisis that receives little attention due to the country’s political and humanitarian challenges. Currently, Afghanistan is among the most vulnerable nations to climate change, despite its minimal contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change, coupled with prolonged droughts and a lack of political and economic stability, has severely impacted access to clean water. Numerous reports from international organizations, including United Nations agencies, have highlighted a critical environmental situation in Afghanistan. In the latest instance, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has stated that climate change poses a serious threat to Afghanistan’s glaciers, expressing concern over their rapid melting. However, some experts note that climate change has already had devastating effects in the region, including the loss of glaciers. According to them, between 1990 and 2015, approximately 14 percent of Afghanistan’s glaciers disappeared.