Matiul Haq Khalis, Director General of Afghanistan’s National Environmental Protection Agency, has travelled to Baku to attend the 13th World Urban Forum, where climate change and safer cities will be discussed.
The National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) said Khalis left for Azerbaijan as the head of an Afghan delegation to take part in the forum, which is organised by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
NEPA said the gathering would bring together government officials, mayors, international organisations, climate experts and urban development agencies.
“The international forum, held under the theme ‘Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities,’ is considered one of the world’s important urban and environmental gatherings,” the agency said.
The World Urban Forum is scheduled to take place from 17 to 22 May 2026 in Baku, according to UN-Habitat and the forum’s organisers.
Afghanistan’s participation comes as the country faces increasing pressure from droughts, floods, earthquakes, landslides and weak urban infrastructure.
The World Bank says Afghanistan is highly prone to recurring natural hazards, while climate change threatens natural resources that many Afghans depend on for their livelihoods.
The forum could be important for Afghanistan as it looks for experience in urban planning, disaster preparedness, waste management and climate-resilient cities. Many Afghan cities have grown with limited planning, while poor housing and weak infrastructure make communities more vulnerable to extreme weather.
“The Afghan delegation is expected to take part in various sessions and technical discussions on climate change, urban environmental protection, sustainable development, waste management, green cities, prevention of air pollution, and urban resilience,” NEPA said.
NEPA said Khalis and his delegation would also meet international organisations, donor institutions and representatives of other countries to discuss environmental cooperation and technical support.
“The National Environmental Protection Agency considers participation in such international forums important for Afghanistan and believes it will be useful for exchanging international experiences, expanding climate and environmental cooperation, and addressing the country’s urban and environmental challenges,” the agency said.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near...
The United Nations' top human rights official has called for independent investigations into deaths in U.S. immigration detention facilities, citing a...
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead a...
An aircraft roughly the size of a car crashed into Beijing's tallest skyscraper on Friday evening, triggering a major emergency response and a heavy p...
Montenegrin police, working alongside the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation, have arrested an Iranian national accused of carrying out a ...
A Taliban ban on smartphones for civil servants has raised fresh concerns over access to information in Afghanistan, with rights groups warning it could further isolate government employees and tighten the authorities' control over public life.
The European Union and Taliban officials held talks in Brussels on Tuesday on consular services and the situation of Afghans whose asylum applications have been rejected in Europe.
Pakistan and Russia have agreed to deepen counterterrorism cooperation amid continuing concerns over militant threats emanating from Afghanistan, underlining growing alignment between the two countries on regional security.
Belgium has issued 24-hour visas to a Taliban delegation attending European Union migration talks in Brussels, as EU member states explore ways to return some Afghans convicted of serious crimes or considered security threats.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 struck Japan's northeast coast on Thursday, but no tsunami warning was issued, no injuries were immediately reported and no irregularities were found at nuclear facilities, the authorities said.
As Western Europe battles a deadly heatwave that has shattered temperature records, disrupted transport and power supplies, and forced the closure of schools and cultural landmarks, attention is turning to whether El Niño is playing a role in the extreme conditions.
The U.S. Senate rejected a resolution on Wednesday that would have directed President Donald Trump to remove U.S. forces from hostilities against Iran unless Congress formally authorised military action.
The Kremlin has denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming Moscow is pressuring Belarus to support an expanded Russian military campaign in Ukraine.
Tens of thousands of people are still unaccounted for after two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela. At least 589 people have been confirmed dead and hundreds are believed to be trapped under rubble, as emergency crews and international rescue teams race to respond.
The UN's International Maritime Organization has paused escort operations through the Strait of Hormuz after a cargo ship was reportedly attacked near Oman, with two U.S. officials accusing Iran of the attack.
Kazakhstan has not received an official request from Russia for petrol supplies, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said, as fuel shortages and sales restrictions in Russia raise concerns over fuel supplies across Central Asia.
Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (26 June) condemned as "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative" a statement issued following a joint meeting of foreign ministers from the U.S. and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Manama, Bahrain.
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A321neo, marking another milestone in the carrier's long-term fleet modernisation programme aimed at improving efficiency, expanding capacity and enhancing the passenger experience.
Pakistan is seeking to revive economic ties with Iran by reopening transport links and reassessing imports of discounted Iranian crude oil, as recent regional de-escalation raises hopes of broader economic cooperation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment