Kenya, Azerbaijan deepen environmental and urban development cooperation after UNEA-7

KENYA – Kenya and Azerbaijan have reaffirmed their growing cooperation on environmental protection and sustainable urban development following diplomatic engagements held in Nairobi after the conclusion of the seventh United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7).

The meeting, hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan, brought together senior government officials, diplomats, Kenyan media and sustainability stakeholders to reflect on outcomes from UNEA-7 and identify areas for deeper bilateral collaboration.

UNEA-7 convened delegates from 186 countries and adopted resolutions addressing climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss and sustainable resource management.

At the centre of the engagement was Umaira Taghiyeva, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, whose visit underscored Baku’s expanding role in multilateral environmental governance and its interest in strengthening partnerships with African countries.

Discussions were framed by shared development pressures facing both nations, including climate vulnerability, rapid urbanization and infrastructure gaps.

Kenya, like much of Africa, is grappling with fast-growing cities amid rising climate risks such as prolonged droughts and flooding.

Its urban population has grown from under 20% in the early 1990s to more than 30% today, placing pressure on housing, transport, water and waste systems in cities including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.

Across Africa, the UN estimates that cities will absorb nearly 80% of population growth over the next 25 years.

Azerbaijan highlighted priorities around climate resilience, renewable energy, water management, environmental innovation and sustainable cities, areas that closely mirror Kenya’s own development agenda.

The discussions also looked ahead to the 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13), scheduled to take place in Baku from May 17 to 22, 2026.

Co-organized with UN-Habitat, the forum will focus on housing, resilient cities and inclusive urban development, themes of particular relevance to African countries.

Africa is home to more than half of the world’s informal urban residents, with over 230 million people living in informal settlements.

In Kenya, informal housing accounts for more than 60% of Nairobi’s residential areas, often lacking access to basic services.

WUF13 is therefore expected to offer a platform for African policymakers to shape global debates on urban equity and resilience.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, Sultan Hajiyev, said his country’s hosting of COP29 in 2024, active participation at UNEA-7 and upcoming role as WUF13 host reflect a deliberate strategy to engage more deeply in global environmental and urban governance.

Beyond diplomacy, the engagement pointed to practical cooperation, including knowledge exchange on renewable energy integration, urban water systems and climate-resilient infrastructure.

This comes as Kenya continues to scale renewable energy, now accounting for over 90% of installed capacity, while Azerbaijan advances energy diversification and green infrastructure as part of its post-oil transition.

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