UN-Habitat implementing water adaptation projects in three Azerbaijani cities

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is implementing projects in Baku, Naftalan, and Astara to adapt to various water risks and the impacts of climate change, Programme Manager at the UN-Habitat Country Office in Azerbaijan Runze Wang said at a panel session during Baku Climate Action Week 2026 (BCAW 2026), Olaylar informs.

According to him, the projects are financed by the Adaptation Fund. Although each of the cities has its own specifics, they are all subject to water-related problems to varying degrees.

In Baku, a demonstration project for the development of a park is being implemented, which is designed to combine the function of a public space with an infrastructure task - to accumulate water and minimize the threat of urban flooding, Wang noted.

He emphasized that similar solutions have already been applied by UN-Habitat in Amman.

In Naftalan, fluctuations in water levels have a significant impact on the local population, in connection with which an early warning system for water threats is being created in the city, Wang added.

In Astara, measures are also being taken to protect water resources within the interagency cooperation among several UN structures.

"Park zones can serve not only as places for recreation and public spaces but also carry an infrastructure load - to accumulate water and significantly prevent urban flooding," Wang stated.

In addition, he drew attention to the importance of a comprehensive approach to spatial planning to strengthen the resilience of cities in the face of climate and water risks.