What does climate change mean for Afghanistan’s mountains?

What does climate change mean for Afghanistan’s mountains?

Climate change is having a profound effect on ecosystems worldwide, and mountainous regions are particularly vulnerable to its impacts. Afghanistan, with its rugged terrain and vast mountainous landscapes, is experiencing significant ecological shifts due to rising temperatures, erratic weather patterns, and melting glaciers. As COP29 ends, we delve into the specific issues faced by Afghan communities in mountain areas, and how through locally-led initiatives we can implement climate adaptation and crisis mitigation strategies that enable communities to tackle the impacts of climate change whilst building a more resilient future.

Mountain ecosystems are highly sensitive to environmental changes. However, climate change in mountain regions, particularly in places like Afghanistan, disrupts the fragile balance of these ecosystems. With average temperatures in the country increasing at a rate higher than the global average, the impact of global warming on Afghanistan’s mountain ecosystems is becoming increasingly severe.

Shrinking Snow Caps and Water Scarcity

One of the most urgent indicators of the climate crisis in Afghanistan is the melting of snow in the Hindu Kush mountain range. Snowcaps act as natural reservoirs, storing water in the winter and releasing it slowly down the mountainsides, which previously served as an abundant source of water for the communities that resided in mountain villages and in the ravines below. However, rising temperatures have accelerated snowmelt, causing snowcaps to recede at alarming rates. This phenomenon threatens the availability of fresh water for millions of people who depend on mountain runoff for drinking, washing and cleaning, irrigation for agricultural fields, and hydropower.

The impact of such rising temperatures and melting snow on farmers is particularly severe. When unpredictable precipitation patterns and prolonged droughts threaten the availability of water for agricultural use, traditional farming practices are hugely disrupted and growing seasons become shorter, exacerbating food insecurity. 

Increased Risk of Natural Disasters

The impact of climate change on mountain regions in Afghanistan also heightens the risk of natural disasters, such as flash floods, and potentially even contributes to greater risks of landslides and avalanches. The warming climate causes more intense and frequent rainfall across shorter periods, which can trigger devastating floods. Studies show that these days of heavy precipitation can lead to an increased likelihood of landslides, as water and soil gets quickly pushed down mountains. When land does not absorb enough water due to high temperatures and rapid snow melt, as well as decreased precipitation, it contributes to the degradation of land, including arable fields, making them unfit for plantation, and exacerbating risks of flash floods, which occur when soil has become baked and dehydrated, leaving any rainfall to pool above soil.

The consequences of these natural disasters are far-reaching, often destroying homes, infrastructure, and agricultural lands. In Afghanistan, where many rural communities are already vulnerable due to limited resources and ongoing conflict, the threat posed by climate-related disasters is incredibly concerning.

What does this mean for mountainous Afghan communities? 

The socioeconomic impact of climate change on mountain communities in Afghanistan cannot be underestimated, threatening lives, homes and livelihoods. Whilst living in mountain communities has always come with unique challenges, more and more families are having to leave their homes in search of safety due to the increasing volatility and scarcity of the environment they live in, and the the dwindling sustainability of their traditional way of life.

Many of these communities depend on traditional livelihoods, such as agriculture and livestock herding. As climate change affects water availability and biodiversity, these economic activities are threatened, leaving local populations with fewer resources to earn a living, sustain themselves and make ends meet. For example, the reduction in grazing lands due to shifting vegetation patterns and the degradation of pasturelands puts pressure on livestock herders. 

How can we address these challenges?

Addressing the impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems in Afghanistan requires a multifaceted approach, including both preventative and adaptive action, as well as mitigation of disaster risk and assistance when crises do hit. Through our work leading the Afghanistan Resilience Consortium, Afghanaid support mountain communities to build climate resilience, in numerous ways, including:

• Risk Reduction: To minimise the impact of climate-related disasters, we help establish early warning systems that save lives and reduce damage. Additionally, we build protection infrastructure like check dams, gully plugs and flood retention walls, and work to reforest hillsides to mitigate flood risks, protecting homes and livelihoods.
• Adaptation: We work closely with local communities to enhance their resilience to climate change. By helping recharge groundwater, conserve surface water and improve irrigation systems and water-management practices, we help to create a reliable supply of water for agriculture to sustain rural livelihoods. Through tailored training programmes, we support communities to adopt sustainable and climate-smart farming techniques.
• Community Support: For those unable to sustain livelihoods from agriculture due to climatic changes, we assist them in diversifying their income by learning new skills and starting small businesses. By improving infrastructure, we connect remote mountain communities to larger towns, ensuring access to resources even in times of climate stress. And when crises occur, we also offer vital humanitarian assistance to support those in need. 

However, it is not solely through localised efforts that we can support Afghan communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis. The international community must do more to halt the rise in global temperatures and carbon emissions, which are having disproportionate effects across the Global South. We urge policymakers and changemakers to not forget Afghan communities, as well as those living in mountain regions across the world, who often feel the effects of climate change first and hardest. 

You can help protect Afghanistan's mountain ecosystem

(Image: Richard Pohle/The Times)

The impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems in Afghanistan is a pressing issue that requires urgent action. From melting glaciers and changing biodiversity to increased natural disasters and socioeconomic challenges, the effects of climate change are felt across multiple dimensions. Mitigating these impacts requires a combination of local and global efforts to reduce emissions, adapt to environmental changes, and protect vulnerable communities. As Afghanistan faces a warming world, the need for comprehensive climate action has never been more critical.

By understanding the specific impacts of climate change on Afghanistan’s mountain regions, we can better support efforts to safeguard these ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them. The time to act is now, to ensure a sustainable future for Afghanistan's mountain ecosystems and the people who call them home. Give a gift to support this important work today:  

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