BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. The deployment of
nature-positive approaches shifts from an option to a necessity for
modern cities, particularly under conditions of rapid urbanization
and escalating climate risks, said Jingmin Huang, Director of the
Water and Urban Development Sector Office at the Asian Development
Bank (ADB), Trend
reports.


The official made the remarks during a session titled "Building
Nature-Positive Cities Housing, Resilience, and Sustainable Urban
Futures" held within the framework of the World Urban Forum (WUF13)
in Baku.


According to her, the ADB actively supports investments in
natural capital and the development of nature-positive policies.
She recalled that two years ago in Baku, during the COP29 summit,
the bank introduced its Environmental Action Plan for 2024–2030,
titled "Toward a Nature-Positive Asia and the Pacific."


"This plan represents a roadmap to combat biodiversity loss,
environmental pollution, and climate change across sectors such as
urban development, water supply, transport, agriculture, and
energy," Huang noted.


She emphasized that for Asian cities, nature-positive approaches
are no longer optional: "In this regard, the ADB actively deploys
nature-based solutions to enhance climate resilience, improve
public health, and elevate the quality of the urban
environment."


"One development track involves retrofitting existing urban
territories by creating additional green spaces. Research
demonstrates that such small green zones help reduce stress levels
among residents while simultaneously supporting biodiversity,
creating habitats for birds and wildlife," she said.


Huang identified the integration of "green" and "blue"
infrastructure into urban planning as a second vital priority,
highlighting the application of the "sponge city" concept popular
in China. She stated that such solutions allow municipalities to
manage floods more effectively compared to traditional, costly
"grey" infrastructure.


At the same time, according to her, the deployment of
nature-positive solutions faces a series of challenges, including
land resource scarcity, the necessity of coordination between state
structures, municipalities, and local communities, and financing
complexities.







The ADB representative emphasized that nature-positive cities
encompass far more than just planting trees and creating parks;
they require a fundamentally different approach to urban planning
that systematically integrates nature into the development of the
urban environment.


Today marks the fourth day of WUF13 in Baku.


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.


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.