Case Study: Climate Change Crisis and Its Impact in Afghanistan

Case Study: Climate Change Crisis and Its Impact in Afghanistan

Afghanistan is facing a severe and interconnected climate and humanitarian crisis that is affecting millions of people across the country. Although Afghanistan contributes only around 0.015 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is ranked among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world. Over recent decades, rising temperatures, prolonged droughts, erratic rainfall, flash floods, water scarcity, land degradation, and environmental decline have intensified. Afghanistan’s temperature has increased by approximately 1.8 degrees Celsius since 1950, and climate-related hazards such as floods, droughts, avalanches, and snowstorms affect more than 200,000 people every year. These environmental pressures are compounded by poverty, displacement, weak infrastructure, and limited access to basic services, creating a complex crisis that affects entire communities.

The impact of climate change is particularly severe because nearly 70 percent of Afghanistan’s population depends on agriculture and livestock for their livelihoods. These sectors are highly sensitive to climate conditions, relying on stable rainfall, water availability, and fertile land. Prolonged drought has affected 25 out of 34 provinces, reducing agricultural productivity, destroying crops, and causing livestock losses. More than 11 million people have been affected by multi-year drought conditions, while 67 percent of households report drought-related impacts and 58 percent of communities identify drought as a key driver of displacement.

 As Taza gull one farmer supported by ActionAid in northern Afghanistan explained, “Before the drought, our land provided enough for our family. Now the soil is dry, and we struggle to grow even basic crops. Without support, we would have nothing left.”

Food insecurity has become one of the most visible consequences of this crisis. At the peak of the humanitarian emergency, approximately 23 million people, around half of the population, were acutely food insecure, with 8.7 million people at risk of starvation. More recent assessments for March and April 2025 indicate that around 12.6 million people, or 27 percent of the population, continue to face acute food insecurity at Crisis level or worse. Of these, approximately 10.64 million people are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), while around 1.95 million people are in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). These figures highlight how climate shocks are directly contributing to hunger, malnutrition, and the erosion of livelihoods across the country.

Water scarcity is another critical dimension of Afghanistan’s climate crisis. Drought, declining rainfall, and groundwater depletion have caused wells and rivers to dry up in many regions. More than half of the population is affected by water shortages, and in Kabul alone, up to three million people could face displacement if groundwater resources continue to decline. In some areas, entire villages have already been abandoned as families migrate in search of water and income opportunities.

Flooding has also caused widespread destruction. In May 2025, heavy rainfall following a dry winter triggered devastating floods across several provinces. In Ghor and Faryab, more than 130 people lost their lives, while floods in Badakhshan, Baghlan, and Takhar killed at least 180 people and injured around 280. Across affected provinces such as Nangarhar, Kunar, and Baghlan, approximately 60,000 people were impacted, more than 5,000 families were displaced, around 315 people were killed, and nearly 24,000 hectares of agricultural land were destroyed. These disasters damaged homes, roads, irrigation systems, and farmland, leaving communities without shelter, income, or access to basic services. Fazila One beneficiary supported by ActionAid after the floods in Nangarhar stated, “The flood took everything, our house, our crops, and our animals. With ActionAid’s support, we were able to rebuild and start again, but it is still very difficult.”

Fazila a returnee mother who lost her home to flooding, shares her immediate needs with AAA’s staff during a household assessment for humanitarian assistance.

Although earthquakes are not directly caused by climate change, they further compound existing vulnerabilities. The October 2023 earthquakes in Herat affected more than 12,000 people and highlighted how disasters disproportionately impact already vulnerable communities. Women accounted for 58 percent of those killed, 60 percent of those injured, and 61 percent of those reported missing. These figures reflect broader structural inequalities that influence how different groups experience disasters and access assistance.

The floods changed Subro's life forever, leaving her displaced and in need of hope, Nangarhar AAA’s aid workers, need assessment

Subro, an internally displaced mother from Nangarhar, lost everything when devastating floods swept through her community. Her home, belongings, and livelihood were destroyed, leaving her and her son, who lives with a disability, with nowhere to turn. Today, they depend on the kindness of neighbors, and Subro often has to beg for money to meet their family's basic needs. Through ActionAid Afghanistan's humanitarian response, Subro received emergency assistance that helped her meet immediate needs and offered hope as she begins to rebuild her family's life.

Climate change is also having significant economic and social impacts. Loss of crops, livestock, and income has increased poverty and forced many families to adopt negative coping strategies, including selling assets, reducing food consumption, or migrating. Limited employment opportunities and reduced access to markets further weaken household resilience. At the same time, repeated climate shocks are placing increasing pressure on health systems, education, and community infrastructure.

A farmer stands in his flood-damaged field after losing his crops, highlighting the devastating impact of climate change on rural livelihoods in Afghanistan.

The experience of rural communities across Faryab, Ghor, Badghis, and Nangarhar provinces illustrates how climate change is increasingly affecting villages and livelihoods. Communities face recurrent floods, prolonged droughts, water scarcity, damaged irrigation systems, and inadequate access to safe water and sanitation. These climate-related shocks have disrupted agriculture, destroyed homes and productive assets, displaced families, and increased vulnerability, particularly among women, children, and marginalized groups. Through ActionAid-supported community consultations, residents identify their priority climate risks and needs, enabling the implementation of locally driven adaptation measures such as improved drainage systems, flood protection structures, rehabilitation of water sources, climate-resilient WASH infrastructure, and community-based disaster risk reduction initiatives. These interventions have helped reduce disaster risks, improve access to essential services, protect livelihoods, and strengthen the resilience of rural communities to the growing impacts of climate change.

Across Afghanistan, ActionAid has supported climate adaptation initiatives that focus on strengthening livelihoods, improving water management, and reducing disaster risks. These efforts include rehabilitation of irrigation systems, construction of flood protection structures, promotion of climate-resilient agriculture, and support for renewable energy solutions. By working closely with communities, these programs aim to build resilience and reduce vulnerability to future climate shocks.

Community members participate in a Cash-for-Work activity to rehabilitate irrigation canals and strengthen climate resilience in Jawzjan Province

The evidence clearly shows that climate change in Afghanistan is not only an environmental issue but also a humanitarian, economic, and development crisis. Millions of people are affected by drought, floods, food insecurity, and water scarcity, while repeated disasters continue to erode livelihoods and increase displacement. The figures presented in this case study demonstrate the scale and urgency of the crisis.

 addressing climate change in Afghanistan requires sustained investment in climate adaptation, water management, food security, and resilient livelihoods. Community-based approaches, supported by organizations such as ActionAid, play a critical role in helping people cope with and recover from climate shocks. As one community member reflected, “Climate change has made life harder for all of us, but with support and cooperation, we can find ways to survive and rebuild our future.”

In response to the growing impacts of climate change, ActionAid Afghanistan (AAA) is implementing community-based climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction interventions that help vulnerable communities better manage water resources, reduce disaster risks, and strengthen resilience. Working closely with local communities, AAA has invested in sustainable watershed management and protective infrastructure that addresses the root causes of water scarcity, flooding, and land degradation.

To date, AAA has constructed 1,910,960 meters of water management trenches, 504 gabion walls, 651 check dams, 113 culverts, 39 water pools, and 285 social structures for women to support safe water collection and clothes washing. These interventions capture and store rainwater, recharge groundwater, reduce soil erosion, protect farmland and community infrastructure from flash floods, and improve water availability for domestic use, livestock, and agriculture. Together, they are helping communities adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns while strengthening resilience to future climate shocks.

Community members in Faryab Province participate in a Cash-for-Work activity to strengthen resilience to climate change

These climate adaptation measures are also delivering significant benefits for women and girls, who are often disproportionately affected by climate change and water scarcity.

Improved access to nearby water sources and dedicated facilities for water collection and clothes washing has reduced the time and physical effort required to collect water, allowing women to spend more time on childcare, education, livelihood activities, and community participation. Better access to water has also improved household hygiene, sanitation, and family health, while increased water availability through rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge is supporting household food security and helping families cope with prolonged drought. At the same time, flood protection structures are reducing the impacts of floods and soil erosion, protecting homes, agricultural land, and essential infrastructure, and contributing to safer and more resilient communities.

From the burden of collecting water to the dignity of accessing safe handwashing facilities, improved WASH services are creating healthier futures for children and their communities.

Beyond infrastructure, AAA's approach places communities at the center of climate action by strengthening local capacities to manage natural resources, maintain climate-resilient infrastructure, and lead adaptation efforts. By combining practical climate solutions with community participation and gender-responsive programming, ActionAid Afghanistan is helping vulnerable communities reduce their exposure to climate risks while building more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.