BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. According to the
World Meteorological Organization, the world is experiencing its
hottest days in recent history, Mukhtar Babayev, Representative of
the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Climate Issues, said
in a video address at an event titled "Early Warning and
Climate-Resilient Cities" held within the framework of WUF13,
Trend reports.


According to him, critical issues such as climate finance and
adaptation were discussed at COP29.


"WUF13 is an essential platform for the sustainable development
of cities. Climate change severely impacts cities worldwide and, in
many cases, makes forecasting events difficult. Natural disasters
affect infrastructure and the lives of millions of people. Early
warning systems play a crucial role in preventing damage to
critical infrastructure, and these systems can help reduce losses
by up to approximately 30%. At the same time, they hold special
importance in mitigating impacts on vulnerable groups," Babayev
said.


However, communication barriers and financial constraints remain
among the primary challenges, he noted, adding that partnerships
between the private and public sectors are particularly vital for
this reason.


"Over the past 25 years, a warming trend in average temperatures
has been observed in Azerbaijan, while the number of extreme hot
days and drought events has significantly increased.
Climate-resilient cities must be a core element of urban planning.
This process requires a unified and coordinated approach. No
country can tackle these challenges alone, and Azerbaijan actively
contributes to dialogue and international cooperation in this
direction," Babayev concluded.







The third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum
(WUF13) is underway in Baku.


On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New
Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and
civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the
United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework
of the forum.


The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever
Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing
crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that
day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated
within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an
important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.


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.