EBRD open to including Baku, other Azerbaijani cities in Green Cities program

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is fully open to including Baku in its Green Cities programme, provided that the city meets the established criteria, Lyn O'Grady, Head of the EBRD's Green Cities programme, said in an interview with Report on the sidelines of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13).

She said that the memorandum of understanding signed during COP29 has opened opportunities for deeper engagement with Azerbaijani cities, including Baku and Shamakhi. She added that the EBRD has already begun preparing concrete projects with Baku, focusing on water infrastructure development and urban regeneration, including the rehabilitation and repurposing of oil-contaminated areas.

O"Grady noted that discussions on Baku's accession to the Green Cities programme are ongoing and that the bank intends to continue dialogue with the city administration.

She stressed that the EBRD is ready to consider any city that meets the programme's criteria. According to her, a municipality must first demonstrate willingness to implement an initial green and sustainable investment project in cooperation with the bank. Such projects may include initiatives in water supply and sanitation, transport, solid waste management, energy, or housing infrastructure.

She also said that the city must commit to developing a Green City Action Plan, adding that this is why Ganja has become a successful example. Such a plan, she explained, is not designed for a single project but represents a long-term vision and readiness for further investment. The EBRD, she added, seeks to build long-term partnerships with cities.

Another criterion, she noted, is population size, which must exceed 50,000 people. Most Azerbaijani cities meet this requirement.

The full text of the interview is available here.