Hajiyeva: Blind urbanization harms ecology of major cities

Blind urbanization is depopulating regions and causing excessive damage to the ecology of major cities, Indira Hajiyeva, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports of Azerbaijan, said during an event held within the framework of World Urban Forum 13 in Baku.

Report quotes her as saying by 2050 nearly 70% of the world's population will live in cities, but the aspiration toward megacities has become outdated.

"Is this really the future we aspire to? If you want quality education, access to modern healthcare, and a digital ecosystem, must you leave your native region, abandon your village or small town, and move to a megacity? This approach is already outdated. Blind urbanization depopulates regions and places an excessive burden on the ecology of large cities," the deputy minister emphasized.

As an alternative, she proposed the concept of Rurban, which removes rigid boundaries between urban and rural areas.

"High-speed internet, autonomous green energy, telemedicine, online education, and the sharing economy make it possible to bring the highest standards of urban comfort and inclusiveness to any point in the world. We can preserve the advantages of living in harmony with nature while completely eliminating household and infrastructural gaps in rural areas," Hajiyeva said.