Client: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Implementation Period: 2023 – 2024
Location: Ganja, Shaki (Sheki), Khirdalan, Azerbaijan
As part of Azerbaijan’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and its 2030 climate goals, ACE Group Consultants was contracted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to support the development of Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs) for the cities of Ganja, Shaki, and Khirdalan. The project supports national efforts to promote low-emission urban development and climate resilience through localized planning and implementation.
The SECAPs were prepared in accordance with the methodology of the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM), to which all three cities are committed.
Project Objective
The objective was to design integrated, actionable climate and energy strategies tailored to each municipality, providing a clear roadmap for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change while contributing to national and global targets.
Key Activities
• Municipal Profiling and Strategic Visioning: ACE conducted detailed assessments of the socio-economic, environmental, and infrastructural conditions of each city to develop a long-term vision for sustainable, climate-resilient urban development.
• Baseline Emission Inventories (BEIs): GHG inventories were developed for each city, identifying key emission sources across sectors such as energy, transport, buildings, and waste, using 2020 as the reference year.
• Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessments: Each city’s exposure and sensitivity to climate risks—such as heatwaves, floods, and water scarcity—were analyzed to inform adaptive responses and sectoral risk mitigation priorities.
• Development of Mitigation and Adaptation Measures: The project proposed a mix of policy, infrastructure, and behavioral interventions across priority sectors. These included:
• Stakeholder Engagement and Capacity Building: Through workshops and consultations, the project engaged municipal authorities, local utilities, community representatives, and private stakeholders to ensure relevance, alignment, and ownership of the proposed actions.
• Implementation Planning and Budgeting: SECAPs included cost estimates, funding source recommendations (public budgets, donor funds, PPPs), and monitoring frameworks to track progress and ensure accountability.
City-Specific Highlights
Outcome
The SECAPs developed for Ganja, Shaki, and Khirdalan offer practical, localized roadmaps to accelerate Azerbaijan’s transition to sustainable, climate-resilient urban development. These documents not only align with national policies and NDCs but also serve as tools for attracting climate finance and advancing SDG-aligned urban policy.
ACE Group Consultants is proud to have delivered this strategic assignment in close partnership with UNDP and local municipalities, contributing to Azerbaijan’s long-term climate and development ambitions.