Bridging the Gap: Communicating Afghanistan’s Climate Crisis to Its People
Originally written in November 2021 for my University Writing class, "Communicating Climate Change," at The George Washington University, this paper explores the challenges of effectively communicating Afghanistan’s climate crisis to its own people. Despite being one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, many Afghans remain unaware of its impact due to messaging that fails to resonate with their priorities. Through this research, I discovered my passion for climate change advocacy and the critical role of communication in ensuring that those most affected understand and can act on its implications.
Reformatted for digital accessibility. Feel free to email sahraahmada@gmail.com if you would like full-length, 14 page, research paper.
Introduction
Recently, Afghanistan has been in the news following the Taliban surge, the American troop withdrawal, and the toppling of the democratically elected Afghan government (Hollingsworth). Since the Taliban, an Islamic-fundamentalist terror group, took power, the already declining Afghan economy has been plummeting (Arvin). This economic decline is not only due to decades of war, the fall of the government, or currency devaluation but also the implications of climate change, both directly and indirectly.
Although Afghanistan only contributes 0.3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, the country has warmed 1.8 degrees Celsius—almost twice the global average—since the 1950s (Taylor). The Germanwatch Global Climate Risk Index ranks Afghanistan among the top nations most heavily impacted by climate change. This crisis has led to disastrous flooding in the north while causing severe drought in other regions. Water scarcity and food insecurity have hit the agricultural sector—Afghanistan’s primary source of GDP—leading to worsening economic conditions, increased violence, and a humanitarian disaster (Gauster 1).
Despite the devastating effects of climate change, most Afghans remain unaware of its role in their daily struggles. Communication strategies on climate change have largely targeted Western audiences, failing to engage the Afghan people in a way that resonates with their priorities. This paper explores how framing strategies can improve climate communication, ensuring that those most affected—such as Afghan farmers and vulnerable communities—understand and act on the crisis.
Climate Change and Afghan Farmers
Afghan farmers are at the forefront of the climate crisis. Droughts and decreasing crop yields have left many incomeless (Korte). Out of desperation, some migrate to urban areas such as Kabul, leading to increased child labor and Taliban recruitment (Korte). Others, unable to find employment, turn to illegal activities, such as poppy cultivation for opium production, to sustain their families (Sengupta).
The Taliban has exploited this crisis by offering loans and financial support to struggling farmers in exchange for loyalty, further fueling their control (Korte). This demonstrates a climate-conflict nexus, where climate change indirectly exacerbates violence, drug production, and economic instability in Afghanistan.
Children as the Most Vulnerable Victims
Children are among the most vulnerable to Afghanistan’s climate crisis. The United Nations Children's Agency ranks Afghanistan as the 15th riskiest country for children due to climate-related challenges.
Over 2 million Afghan children are currently malnourished (Sengupta).
Food and water insecurity will impact one-third of Afghanistan’s population within the next year (Lubin).
Taliban restrictions on education are increasing child labor and radicalization (Hollingsworth).
Despite these dire statistics, climate change remains a secondary concern for many Afghans due to more immediate crises such as war, poverty, and economic survival.
The Failure of Climate Communication in Afghanistan
One major reason climate change is not a top priority for Afghans is the lack of effective communication strategies. The Taliban denies the impacts of climate change, asserting that climate events are controlled by God rather than human activity (Taylor). This fundamentalist ideology prevents climate adaptation policies and blocks Afghan representation at global climate summits like COP26 (Lubin).
Furthermore, past Afghan governments focused over 50% of national funding on defense, leaving climate initiatives underfunded (Sengupta). International aid for climate solutions ceased after the Taliban takeover, making local action even more critical (Arvin).
Western narratives about climate change, often rooted in individual action and scientific evidence, fail to resonate with Afghan cultural and religious values. To effectively communicate climate change to Afghans, we must reframe the message to align with their lived experiences, concerns, and priorities.
Effective Communication Strategies: The Role of Framing
To engage Afghan audiences in climate change action, we can use framing strategies that align with their cultural and social priorities. According to Matthew C. Nisbet, framing climate change in ways that connect to people’s existing beliefs and concerns is crucial for engagement (Nisbet 18).
1. National Security Frame
Climate change should be presented as a threat to Afghanistan’s security, increasing violence, instability, and Taliban recruitment.
Highlighting climate change as a national security issue may push the Taliban to prioritize environmental policies.
2. Economic Competitiveness Frame
The connection between climate change and employment rates should be emphasized, as many Afghans prioritize economic survival over environmental concerns.
Demonstrating how climate adaptation can improve Afghanistan’s agricultural economy may encourage climate-conscious policies.
3. Morality and Ethics Frame
Afghanistan is a deeply religious country, and many Afghans view drug production as haram (forbidden by Islam).
Connecting poppy cultivation and the opioid crisis to climate change may create moral opposition to environmental destruction.
Conclusion
Afghanistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable nations, yet many Afghans remain unaware of climate change’s role in their struggles. This lack of awareness is not due to ignorance, but to a failure in communication.
For climate action to take root in Afghanistan, messaging must be framed around national security, economic survival, and religious values—themes that resonate with Afghan society. By shifting the narrative, we can empower Afghans to push for policies that mitigate climate risks and protect their future.
References
Aleryd, Sarah, and Lydia Frassine Farpenholt. From Climate Change to Conflict: An Analysis of the Climate-Conflict Nexus in Communications on Climate Change Response. Jonkoping University, 13 June 2020.
Arvin, Jariel. “How Inaction on Climate Change Can Worsen the Crisis in Afghanistan.” Vox, 15 Sept. 2021. vox.com.
Gauster, Markus. “Ecological Threats to Security and State Resilience in Afghanistan.” Security and Defence Quarterly, vol. 33, no. 1, 2021, pp. 31–40. doi:10.35467/sdq/132023.
Hollingsworth, Julia. “Who Are the Taliban and How Did They Take Control of Afghanistan so Swiftly?” CNN, 24 Aug. 2021. cnn.com.
Korte, Cara. “How Climate Change Helped Strengthen the Taliban.” CBS News, 20 Aug. 2021. cbsnews.com.
Lubin, Rhian. “Afghan Children's Climate Emergency as Country Noticeably Absent from COP26.” Mirror, 4 Nov. 2021. mirror.co.uk.
Nisbet, Matthew C. “Communicating Climate Change: Why Frames Matter for Public Engagement.” Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, vol. 51, no. 2, 2009, pp. 12–23. doi:10.3200/envt.51.2.12-23.
Sengupta, Somini. “A New Breed of Crisis: War and Warming Collide in Afghanistan.” The New York Times, 30 Aug. 2021. nytimes.com.
Taylor, Diane. “UK Accused of Ignoring Plight of Green Activists in Afghanistan.” The Guardian, 29 Sept. 2021. theguardian.com.
