Baku: Cities should be recognized as key drivers of climate solutions, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Dmitry Shlapachenko stated during the next panel discussion at the Fourth Climate Week (CW4) conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, APA reports.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Shlapachenko emphasized that sustainable urban development and climate action are inseparable. He stated that cities should be recognized not only as places vulnerable to climate change but also as key drivers of climate solutions, innovation, sustainability, and inclusive growth.
The UN official noted that the key collective challenge on the road to COP31 is to translate climate ambition into real implementation. He stressed the importance of reflecting national climate commitments in urban development strategies, spatial planning, infrastructure investments, and local decision-making processes.
Shlapachenko highlighted that climate and urban policies can no longer operate on separate tracks. He pointed out that if sustainable, low-carbon, and climate-resilient cities are to be built, these policies must be integrated. The transformation of cities, he noted, requires coordinated action across all sectors and different levels of government.
He concluded by stating that bridging the gap between national commitments and local implementation necessitates joint efforts by national and local governments, communities, international organizations, financial institutions, academia, the private sector, and civil society.