CAPITAL city of Pakistan, Islamabad¡ is grappling with a host of climate-related challenges like rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns and the loss of green spaces that threaten its ecological and urban integrity. In response to these threats, the city has recognized the need for comprehensive climate mitigation strategies that address the root causes of climate change. One promising avenue for climate resilience is the integration of sustainable landscaping and urban planning models. In this regard, Islamabad’s Capital Development Authority (CDA) has shown interest in adopting the landscape model from Baku, Azerbaijan, which has successfully utilized green infrastructure to foster environmental sustainability and resilience.
Following the recommendations of a horticulture expert team from Baku, work is underway to enhance and restore key urban areas of the city including Saidpur Model Village, Melody Market and Srinagar Highway. These green initiatives, aimed at beautification and ecological restoration, are expected to be completed by the upcoming spring season. To evaluate the progress of the work, a meeting was held last week in Islamabad between CDA head Muhammad Ali Randhawa and Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Khazar Farhadov. Recently, I have visited Baku and found that it has undertaken several ambitious landscaping projects that emphasize green spaces, water management and community engagement. These strategies have not only enhanced the city’s visual appeal but have also improved its resilience to climate-related issues.
Urbanization is the leading vulnerability of Islamabad to climate change as concrete infrastructure is expanding, while deforestation and inadequate green spaces exacerbate the urban heat effect. Changes in climate patterns have led to reduced rainfall in the region, affecting the availability of surface water. Islamabad’s water supply largely depends on local rivers and reservoirs which are impacted by irregular rainfall and melting glaciers. Islamabad also experiences seasonal fluctuations in water availability, with summer months facing higher demand and lower supply due to less rainfall. To cope with these challenges, Islamabad needs to adopt more sustainable urban planning practices that prioritize green spaces and water management to reduce the impact of climate change. Baku’s landscape model could serve as a blueprint for Islamabad’s climate adaptation efforts by expanding its green spaces, effective water management systems and the creation of community-centered projects that not only encourage environmental stewardship and contribute to the city’s aesthetic value but also enhance its ecological resilience.
To enhance biodiversity and reduce the heat effect, Islamabad can learn from Azerbaijan’s priority of expanding green spaces as Baku has invested heavily in parks, public gardens and green corridors. Although, Islamabad already possesses several public parks, such as Shakarparian and Daman-e-Koh, many areas of the city are still devoid of sufficient green coverage. By following Baku’s example, Islamabad can integrate more green areas into its urban fabric, including the development of vertical gardens and green roofs that would provide crucial environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration and improved air quality. Azerbaijan’s innovative approach to water management offers valuable insights for Islamabad, particularly in conserving water resources in Baku by implementing rainwater harvesting systems, water-efficient landscaping and sustainable drainage techniques to mitigate the risks of flooding and water scarcity.
In Islamabad, water conservation is a pressing concern, especially given the city’s reliance on external water sources that are becoming increasingly unreliable. These water-smart practices would help Islamabad become more resilient to climate-induced water scarcity and can benefit from Baku’s sustainable urban mobility initiatives of green transportation infrastructure, including cycling lanes, pedestrian walkways and electric vehicle charging stations. Islamabad, which faces severe traffic congestion and air quality issues, could adopt similar strategies to promote sustainable mobility. Furthermore, establishing infrastructure for electric vehicles and providing incentives for their adoption could help transition Islamabad away from fossil fuel-dependent transport, contributing to lower emissions and cleaner air. Baku’s another landscape model that could be adapted to Islamabad is energy-efficient landscaping by placing trees and shrubs around buildings providing natural shade, reducing the need for air conditioning and lowering overall energy consumption. This principle could be applied to Islamabad’s urban planning, particularly in densely built areas. Perhaps most importantly, Baku’s landscape model emphasizes the involvement of local communities in the planning of green spaces to ensure that the projects are not only sustainable but also culturally appropriate and well-maintained.
Islamabad’s landscape initiatives would benefit from similar community involvement, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among residents. Public awareness campaigns highlighting the importance of green spaces for climate resilience, such as tree planting and neighbourhood clean-up initiatives, could further strengthen the connection between citizens and their environment. To fully integrate Baku’s landscape model into Islamabad’s climate mitigation efforts, there is a need to ensure that landscaping projects are aligned with the city’s climate adaptation strategy. The collaboration between Islamabad and Baku serves as an example of how cities around the world can work together to tackle the pressing challenges posed by climate change. For a successful implementation of these initiatives, Islamabad needs to follow Baku’s development master plan for 2040 that focuses on a multi-centred urban strategy with an estimated cost of around $55 billion.
—The writer is a climate communication analyst based in Islamabad.
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