Estonian official: Safety in cities is one of the key indicators of urban development
Baku, May 17, AZERTAC
“The successful development of cities can be measured by whether children can walk to school safely. Although Estonia is a small country, its cities have become important testing grounds for digital innovation, the green transition, and inclusive planning. Creating safe cities is a personal priority,” said Ivo Jaanisoo, Estonia’s Deputy Secretary General on Living Environment and Circular Economy, during his speech at the 13th Session of the UN World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.
“Today, my son celebrates his seventh birthday. In four months, he will walk to school alone, just like other children in Estonia. This is exactly what can be considered an indicator of proper urban development,” he emphasized.
Ivo Jaanisoo noted that, as an active participant in the New European Bauhaus initiative, Estonia supports the creation of urban environments that combine sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusiveness. According to him, this approach aligns with the global objectives of the UN New Urban Agenda.
The Estonian official also highly praised the renewed “Green Cities Partnership” between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and UN-Habitat. He stressed that integrated multilateral approaches are necessary to address the “triple planetary crisis” of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
During his speech, Jaanisoo highlighted that the circular economy is one of the principal pathways toward achieving the European Union’s climate neutrality goals by 2050. He added that resource efficiency, nature-based solutions, and the renovation of buildings instead of demolition should remain priorities in urban planning policy.
He also emphasized the importance of creativity, innovation, and public participation in promoting compact urban development while preserving biodiversity.
According to the Estonian official, training qualified specialists is particularly important for the broader implementation of smart city solutions.
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