Baku can serve as a model for other countries in global sustainable urban development agenda, says UN-Habitat representative
Baku, May 20, AZERTAC
Baku can serve as a model for other countries in the global sustainable urban development agenda, Joshua Forte, a member of the Youth Advisory Council of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and Founder and CEO of Red Diamond Compost (Barbados), said in an interview with AZERTAC.
According to him, WUF13 is a key platform where leading experts, representatives of international organizations, urban governance specialists, as well as members of the academic and civil society communities come together. He emphasized that the forum creates opportunities for meaningful exchange of ideas and the development of solutions that not only shape the future of cities, but also drive practical changes that need to be implemented today.
Forte noted that one of the key values of the forum is its ability to amplify the voices of groups that are often excluded from mainstream discussions, thereby including them in dialogue and in shaping future urban policy.
Speaking about Azerbaijan’s role in the global sustainable urban development agenda, he stressed that the country can serve as a model for others. According to him, Baku demonstrates a successful integration of green spaces into the urban environment and a harmonious balance between natural ecosystems and urban development, which can be used as a model for other countries.
Addressing the challenges of rapidly growing cities, Forte highlighted high population density and pressure on urban infrastructure, which reduces the efficiency of urban systems. He also emphasized the importance of more rational use of existing infrastructure and a shift towards multifunctional utilization.
In this context, he referred to the concept of chrono-urbanism, noting that the development of multifunctional infrastructure and the efficient use of urban spaces are key directions for enhancing the sustainability of rapidly growing cities.
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