DEBATE. Climate goals cannot be achieved without sustainable cities. With the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku, the focus is shifting to how the cities of the future can become sustainable, inclusive and resilient. This is what Azerbaijan's Ambassador to Sweden, Zaur Ahmadov, writes.

When Azerbaijan hosted COP29, the country was placed at the center of the global climate debate. The focus was on ambitious climate action, energy transition and international cooperation. But the climate issue cannot be addressed in isolation. It now continues in another, equally crucial dimension: urban development. With the World Urban Forum 13 (WUF13) in Baku, the focus shifts to how the cities of the future will be built – sustainable, inclusive and resilient.

This is not a peripheral issue. The global housing crisis is today one of the greatest challenges of our time. Almost three billion people live in inadequate housing conditions, and over a billion in informal settlements. At the same time, almost 70 percent of the world's population is expected to live in cities by 2050. The speed and extent of urbanization mean that issues of housing, infrastructure and social integration are crucial not only for developing countries, but also for Europe and Sweden.

There is a clear connection between COP29 and WUF13. Climate goals – from the Paris Agreement to national strategies – cannot be achieved without sustainable cities. At the same time, housing is a cornerstone of both social stability and climate adaptation. Energy-efficient buildings, sustainable mobility and circular material flows all start in city planning. Therefore, WUF13 will be a natural continuation of the discussions that took place during COP29.

This is particularly relevant for Sweden. Swedish initiatives such as Viable Cities, Vinnova and collaborations with universities such as KTH and Lund show how climate-neutral cities can be developed through innovation and systems thinking. Experiences from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö are already contributing to global models for sustainable urban development. Swedish actors also actively participate in international forums where issues of climate, housing and social inclusion are discussed – including within the UN's UN-Habitat.

But the relationship between Sweden and Baku in urban development has deeper historical roots. As early as the 19th century, Swedish actors played a central role in Baku's emergence as a modern city. The Nobel brothers – Robert, Ludvig and Alfred – established the oil industry in the region and created Branobel, one of the world's first international energy companies. This led to a series of innovations that changed the cityscape.

It was in Baku that the world’s first modern oil tanker, the Zoroaster, was introduced in 1878. Early pipelines were built here to streamline energy transport, and Ericsson established one of the first telephone lines in the region as early as 1881. At the same time, Villa Petrolea was created – not only as a residence for the Nobel family, but as a green and socially sustainable environment with schools, healthcare and recreational areas. In the middle of the industrialized “Black City”, this became a model for integrated urban planning where technology, environment and social needs were united.

This history is not just a cultural heritage – it reflects central issues on today’s urban agenda. How can industrialization and economic development be reconciled with social responsibility and environmental concerns? How can cities grow without creating inequality and ecological costs? These questions are being discussed globally today – but have in a sense already been tested in Baku’s history.

Already at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Nordic voices documented this transformation. Well-known figures such as Knut Hamsun and Erik Biering described Baku as a city in rapid change – a place where tradition met modernity and where urban dynamics created both opportunities and challenges.

This historical experience is now being continued in a modern way through concrete collaborations between Sweden and Azerbaijan. In recent years, representatives of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency of Azerbaijan (IDDA) have visited Stockholm to learn about Swedish experiences in smart cities, within the framework of collaborations with, among others, Smart City Sweden and Swedish institutions. These initiatives show how knowledge exchange in digitalization, innovation and sustainable urban development contributes to strengthening the capacity for future urban solutions.

Today, the world is facing a new phase of this development.

 Climate change, conflict and economic disparities are driving urban migration and increasing pressure on cities. Extreme weather events are destroying homes and infrastructure, while rising costs and lack of planning are exacerbating the housing crisis. At the same time, research shows that access to adequate housing is crucial for health, education and economic development.

WUF13 will therefore be a platform where these issues come together. Here, not only housing construction is discussed, but also financing, governance, innovation and social inclusion. How can investments be directed towards affordable housing? How can informal settlements be integrated instead of marginalized? How can cities become more resilient to climate change?

For Sweden, this means an opportunity to contribute, as Swedish experiences in sustainable urban planning, digitalization and social responsibility are in demand globally.

The relationship between Sweden and Azerbaijan – which was once manifested through the Nobel brothers' work in Baku – thus gains renewed relevance.

WUF13 in Baku is therefore more than an international forum. It is an opportunity to formulate the next step in the global transition – where historical experiences, contemporary innovations and future visions meet. And for Sweden it is a reminder that our contribution to this development, both historically and today, is both relevant and necessary.

Zaur Ahmadov,
Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Sweden