Deputy minister: Flood incidents increased over 18 times in Azerbaijan over last 10 years

The decrease in water in the Caspian Sea deepens ecological risks, stated Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Umayra Taghiyeva at the event titled "Stories from Climate Frontlines" organized within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku.

According to her, the integration of climate factors into urban planning is becoming increasingly important for cities, which are key actors in this struggle: "Sustainable urban development starts with a national vision and long-term political commitments, including stronger global cooperation. As a hint, I would like to share the experience of my homeland. Azerbaijan's cities and communities have faced a number of environmental problems and climate-related threats. In the assessment of the vulnerability index for Azerbaijan (which is reflected in our initial National Adaptation Plan), over the past 10 years in our country, flood incidents have increased more than 18 times, the duration of droughts has increased by 18%, the number of days when temperatures exceeded 35 degrees and rainfall events have increased six times. The amount of water entering the country has decreased by 30%. The decline of the Caspian Sea level is another complex problem. Yet again, this ecological crisis has not received the global attention it needs or deserves."

"Living in harmony with nature has already become a necessity. We must respond to and adapt to new realities. We understand that timely and accessible early warnings for climate threats can drastically reduce human casualties, infrastructure damage, and prevent ecological disasters. We must ensure all countries have access to innovative technologies. One of the important factors here is our technological choices. In some cases, simple and nature-based solutions can yield more effective results than large-scale engineering solutions that require significant financial resources. It is a global call that living in harmony with nature is no longer a choice but a necessity," the deputy minister added.