Baku: The Republic of Azerbaijan is set to significantly increase its reliance on renewable energy, with plans to elevate its share in electricity generation to 24 percent. This ambitious target was revealed by Huseyn Huseynov, the Adviser to the Minister of Economy, during a session titled 'Strategic Environmental Assessment Tool for Achieving Climate Targets in Urban Planning' at the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13).

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Huseynov highlighted that the development of digital infrastructure, which now covers 95 percent of the country, has been pivotal in this transition. He pointed out that the COP29 conference held in Baku in 2024 marked a significant turning point for Azerbaijan. The event catalyzed concrete commitments in areas such as climate financing, green infrastructure, and sustainable development, shaping the nation's economic and urban planning strategies. Huseynov emphasized that sustainability is being integrated as a core component of Azerbaijan's long-term economic framework.

Huseynov also addressed the challenges posed by urbanization, noting that 58 percent of the global population currently resides in cities, a figure expected to rise to 70 percent by 2050. Cities, he explained, are major contributors to global greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption, accounting for 70 percent and 75 percent, respectively. He further cited that from 1970 to 2021, the world faced economic losses totaling 4.3 trillion US dollars due to extreme weather and climate events, with these figures continuing to escalate. Huseynov acknowledged that population growth and urban expansion will place increasing pressure on infrastructure in the years to come.