17:18 - 20.05.2026

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May 20, Fineko/abc.az. The decrease in the water level in the Caspian Sea deepens environmental risks.

ABC.AZ informs that Deputy Minister of Ecology & Natural Resources Umaira Tagiyeva said this at an event within the WUF13 in Baku.

She added that integration of climate factors in urban planning is becoming increasingly important for cities, which play a key role in this fight.

"Sustainable urban development begins with a national vision and long-term political commitments, including broader global cooperation. As an example, I would like to share my country's experience. Cities and communities of Azerbaijan face a number of environmental problems and climate threats. According to the vulnerability index for Azerbaijan (which is reflected in our first National Adaptation Plan), over the past 10 years, the number of floods in the country has increased more than 18-fold, duration of droughts by 18%, the number of days with temperatures above 35 degrees and the number of rain events by six times. The volume of water entering the country has decreased by 30%. The lowering of the Caspian Sea level is another difficult problem. And yet this environmental crisis has not received the global attention it needs and deserves."

"Living in harmony with nature has already become a necessity. We must respond to new realities and adapt to them. We understand that timely and affordable early warning systems for climate threats can dramatically reduce human casualties, damage to infrastructure, and prevent environmental disasters. We must ensure that all countries have access to innovative technologies. In this context, our technological solutions are an important factor. In some cases, simple and nature-oriented solutions can produce more effective results than large-scale engineering projects that require large financial resources. Living in harmony with nature is no longer a choice - it is a necessity and a global challenge," she emphasized.