Dia: IDB, UN-Habitat promoting nature-based solutions for sustainable cities

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and UN-Habitat are promoting nature-based solutions for sustainable cities, Idrissa Dia, acting director of the IDB's Resilience and Climate Action Department, said at the event "Nature-Based Solutions for Resilient Arab Cities: From Local Action to Urban Transformation" at WUF13 in Baku, Report informs.

He stated that the Islamic Development Bank, together with UN-Habitat, is launching a new joint publication aimed at promoting practical and scalable approaches to addressing urban and climate challenges in the Arab region.

Dia noted that the partnership is being implemented against a backdrop of accelerated urbanization, climate change, water scarcity, and environmental degradation, which require comprehensive solutions.

"These challenges require integrated solutions aimed not only at strengthening infrastructure but also at restoring and protecting the natural ecosystems on which our cities depend," he said.

The bank's representative emphasized that nature-based solutions are an effective tool for sustainable urban development, enabling a rethinking of approaches to urban planning.

"By investing in ecosystems, we can improve service delivery, reduce climate risks and impacts, improve quality of life, and create new opportunities for employment and economic growth," he added.