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ADB: Azerbaijan improves position in water security and climate risk management

18 December 2025 14:42 (UTC +04:00)

Azerbaijan has improved its indicators in water supply, sanitation, environmental safety, and climate risk management, APA-Economics reports, citing the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Progress in water supply

According to the report, Azerbaijan has raised its water supply score from 4 to 5 points. This reflects improved access to safe drinking water, better service continuity, and stronger governance. While many countries in the region maintained previous levels, Azerbaijan was among those that achieved progress in this area.

Expansion of sanitation and wastewater services

ADB’s assessment shows that Azerbaijan has also made progress in sanitation and sewerage services. The country improved its score from 3 to 4/5 points, reflecting the expansion of sewerage networks and improvements in wastewater treatment infrastructure.

Urban drainage: Baku White City highlighted
The report notes that the Baku White City project has contributed to strengthening urban drainage infrastructure. This project has had a positive impact on Azerbaijan’s performance in managing stormwater and flood risks.

Low risk of plastic pollution

In the 2025 report, which for the first time includes an indicator measuring plastic waste flows at river mouths, Azerbaijan was placed in the lowest risk category. According to the findings, the volume of plastic waste entering the environment through rivers in Azerbaijan is low, a result linked to strong environmental governance and basin-level control.

Improved standing on climate risks and disasters

ADB states that Azerbaijan has made consistent progress in managing water-related disaster risks (KD5), placing it among the safest third of countries. Reduced exposure to drought, investments in digital hydrology systems, and the establishment of emergency response centers have supported this improvement.

The report also notes a positive trend in Azerbaijan’s Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), which contributes to lowering future climate risks.

Warning on adaptation planning

At the same time, ADB warns that to ensure the sustainability of this progress, Azerbaijan needs to complete its climate adaptation plans and steer urban development away from high flood-risk zones. The temporary easing of drought pressure creates only a limited window of opportunity to prepare for future climate risks.

Green energy and regional cooperation

The report highlights mountainous hydropower projects as one of the key opportunities for decarbonization. In late 2023 and early 2024, Azerbaijan launched regional agreements and joint projects in the hydropower sector together with neighboring countries, which has become one of the factors accelerating the green energy transition.