Baku’s green areas to more than double under 2040 plan — official

Azerbaijan plans to increase the total area of public green spaces in Baku to approximately 2,500 hectares by 2040, including the creation of around 1,000 hectares of new green areas.

Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture Anar Guliyev made the remarks during a panel session titled "Advancing the Urban Dimension of Climate Action: From WUF13 to COP31" held as part of Baku Climate Action Week 2026, Caliber.Az reports.

“According to the Master Plan of Baku, the area of public green spaces per capita will increase from 5.8 to 8 square metres. By 2040, the total area of public green spaces should reach approximately 2,500 hectares, including the creation of around 1,000 hectares of new green areas,” Guliyev noted.

He said the authorities aim to develop interconnected systems through hybrid “green” corridors to support climate change adaptation, biodiversity, public health, and sustainable mobility.

“This reflects a broader principle: we should not ask where climate measures can be added to the existing urban system — we should ask how to plan the urban system itself so that it is inherently resilient to climate change,” Guliyev said.

Guliyev also highlighted measures being implemented in the construction sector, noting that the government has approved new energy-efficiency standards for buildings.

According to him, the new standards strengthen the regulatory framework for translating climate commitments into practical requirements. Bilateral cooperation with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is also helping create favorable conditions for the development of more energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.

Guliyev further said Azerbaijan’s Great Return state program demonstrates how reconstruction can serve not only to restore what was lost but also to create safer, more resilient and future-ready communities.

“The comprehensive master plan for the liberated territories, together with the master plans for cities and planning documents for other settlements, provides a strategic foundation for consistent and balanced territorial development. The goal is not only reconstruction. It is to create conditions for stronger connectivity, balanced regional development and a better quality of life for returning communities,” he added.

By Vafa Guliyeva