Baku hosts high-level forum on clean air, green cities at WUF13 PHOTO

At the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Founder and Head of the IDEA Public Union, and in partnership with the Clean Air Fund (CAF), a high-level forum was organized on the margins of the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) under the theme “Breathing Life into the New Urban Agenda: Integrating Air Quality and Green Infrastructure for Resilient Cities.”

An address by Leyla Aliyeva was delivered at the opening of the forum. In her speech, she underlined that air quality is of vital importance for the health and well-being of urban residents, as well as for ensuring a safe living environment for future generations. She noted that the issue of clean air must become one of the priorities of the modern urban planning agenda, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Information was also shared on the activities carried out by the IDEA Public Union, including the rehabilitation of residential courtyards under the “Our Yard” project, as well as ongoing efforts in tree planting, public awareness campaigns, and the promotion of sustainable transport. Participants were also briefed on the critical need for international cooperation to reduce air pollution and develop greener, more resilient, and human-centered cities.

During the formal session, speakers including Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Deputy Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Anna Soave, Head of the UN-Habitat Country Programme in Azerbaijan; Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy Head of the Administration of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Umayra Taghiyeva, Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources; and Cecilia Vaca Jones, representative of CAF, emphasized that reducing urban air pollution is essential for protecting human health, strengthening climate resilience, and improving quality of life.

The event continued with panel discussions, where IDEA Public Union expert Elnur Safarov, UNEP Regional Coordinator Mahir Aliyev, and other participants exchanged views on international best practices and practical approaches to improving urban air quality, addressing environmental challenges, and mitigating impacts on human health.

At the conclusion of the forum, participants adopted a communiqué titled the “Baku Call for Action for Breathing Cities.” The document calls for recognizing clean air as a core principle of modern urban planning, ensuring its inclusion as a recurring topic on the agenda of future World Urban Forums, and strengthening cooperation across urban planning, transport, housing policy, green infrastructure, and public health.

As part of the forum, an exhibition was also presented showcasing visual materials from the Clean Air Fund, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other partners, along with works by participants of the “Children’s Eyes on Earth” international photography project.

By Vafa Guliyeva