Sustainable Development Goals at Baku State University.

An academic seminar titled “Sustainable Socio-Economic and Demographic Development Characteristics of Azerbaijani Cities” was held at Baku State University (BSU), organized by the Faculty of Geography and the Student Youth Organization (SYO), ahead of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) to be held in Baku in 2026 under the auspices of the United Nations.

Dean of the Faculty of Geography, Professor Maqsad Gocamanov, spoke about the importance of sustainably managing urban development in a globalizing world. He emphasized the necessity of enhancing students’ knowledge of urbanization and expressed confidence that events held within the framework of WUF13 would further broaden their scientific outlook and perspectives on urban development processes.

During the seminar, Associate Professor Etibar Badalov from the Department of Geography of Azerbaijan and Methodology of Geography Teaching delivered a presentation. He explained the scientific and practical foundations of the factors determining the socio-economic development of cities and provided information on demographic processes within the country’s urban system. The presentation addressed urbanization dynamics, the environmental burden on urban areas, and the impact of migration flows on urban infrastructure, supported by facts and statistical indicators.

Etibar Badalov emphasized that sustainable development is ensured not only by economic indicators but also by social welfare, ecological balance, and adaptive management principles in the urban environment.

The seminar concluded with a question-and-answer session and discussions on the future prospects of urban development processes.

SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals)