BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 22. Artificial intelligence (AI), digitalization, and data-driven management also have a high transformative potential in urban planning, Advisor to the Azerbaijani Minister of Economy, Hasan Hasanli, said at an event titled “Strategic Environmental Assessment as a tool for achieving climate targets in urban planning” in Baku within the framework of the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13), Trend reports.
The advisor stressed that modern analytical tools are already strengthening climate forecasting, resource efficiency, and evidence-based decision-making.
"These approaches also include the strategic environmental assessment process, and Azerbaijan is committed to using these innovations to build smarter, more agile, and more adaptive cities of the future," he explained.
According to Hasanli, today, climate sustainability and economic sustainability have become almost the same concept.
"Sustainable cities require integrated and coordinated policies, and strategic environmental assessment provides the essential evidence base for this.
Azerbaijan is proud to co-host this event. We believe that knowledge sharing and sincere multilateral cooperation are the foundation for building sustainable, inclusive, and promising cities of the future," he added.
Today marks the final day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The first day included a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New Urban Agenda, a ministerial roundtable, assemblies for women and civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban prosperity. An official ceremony marking the raising of the UN and Azerbaijani flags also took place.
The second day stood out for the inaugural Leaders' Summit, featuring high-level discussions on the global housing crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience. Concurrently, the opening of the Mexico City pavilion took place, serving as a significant platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin American region and preparing for WUF14.
The third day of WUF13 featured a comprehensive program of events covering the global housing crisis, the formation of safe and inclusive cities, climate resilience, artificial intelligence and urban governance, green urbanization, social equity, and sustainable transport.
One of the highlights of the third day was the signing of a sister-city memorandum between the Azerbaijani city of Shusha and the Turkish city of Trabzon.
The fourth day of WUF13 featured a broad program of events dedicated to urbanization, climate change, inclusive urban development, housing policy, and sustainable governance.
The fifth day of WUF13 continued discussions on the global housing crisis, the creation of safe and inclusive cities, climate resilience, the use of artificial intelligence in urban management, green urbanization, and social equality.
One of the important events of the UN Special Program for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Cities Forum, held on the fourth day, was the announcement of Almaty’s official accession to the “Declaration of Intent on the Establishment of the SPECA Smart Climate-Resilient Cities Forum.”
Also, for the first time in WUF history and at Azerbaijan’s initiative, the “WUF13 NGO Forum: Global Partnership and Decision-Making” was held.
WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities,” the forum brings together governments, international organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban development.
