World Bank emphasizes climate threats impacting Azerbaijan’s future

Azerbaijan will inevitably face the consequences of climate change, said the World Bank Country Manager for Azerbaijan Stefanie Stallmeister.

In her remarks at the Green Finance conference organized by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Azerbaijan) in Baku, she emphasized the urgent challenges posed by rising temperatures, droughts, floods, and other climate changes, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

These issues are increasingly evident on a global scale and are poised to impact Azerbaijan significantly, particularly given that 70 per cent of its water resources are derived from transboundary rivers.

She pointed out that neighboring countries in the region are also grappling with similar environmental challenges and are actively planning to develop appropriate infrastructure, including reservoirs, to mitigate these effects.

Currently, Azerbaijan is facing serious water shortages, with surface water reserves fluctuating between 20 and 27 cubic kilometers, especially during dry years. Alarmingly, around 70-72 per cent of the country’s freshwater is sourced from outside its borders.

In response to the pressing issue of drinking water scarcity, President Ilham Aliyev has announced ambitious plans to desalinate seawater from the Caspian Sea. This initiative, which commenced during the reconstruction of the Shirvan irrigation canal on April 16, 2024, aims to enhance both irrigation and drinking water supplies. Azerbaijan's strategic location near the Caspian basin is viewed as a significant advantage, drawing inspiration from successful desalination projects in countries like Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Israel, for instance, is recognized as a global leader in seawater desalination technology, utilizing approximately 70 per cent of its treated water for agricultural and industrial purposes. In a similar vein, Saudi Arabia is collaborating with IBM to develop a solar-powered desalination plant in Khafji, which has the capacity to produce 30,000 cubic meters of water daily.

Moreover, Azerbaijan has its own Caspian Sea Water Desalination Complex, established in 2012 in Khidirli. This facility employs reverse osmosis to convert saltwater into freshwater, providing a promising solution to the country’s looming water crisis. As these initiatives unfold, they reflect a commitment to addressing water scarcity and ensuring a sustainable future for Azerbaijan.

By Vafa Guliyeva