Agriculture is the primary victim of climate change in Azerbaijan, Elnur Aliyev, the First Deputy Minister of Economy, said at the Baku Climate Action Week, Report informs.
Aliyev highlighted that last year, Azerbaijan experienced severe droughts, creating obstacles for agriculture. "We want to grow crops that are resistant to dry landscapes," Aliyev stated. The region is also facing droughts amidst the changing climate, with Azerbaijan encountering water scarcity. "This means we need to educate people in this area," he added.
The deputy minister noted that tourism is not spared from the impacts of climate change either. "There are also effects in terms of infrastructure. The decrease in the water level of the Caspian Sea is causing concerns for us. This means we need to allocate finances to infrastructure as well," Aliyev pointed out.
Aliyev also pointed out that in recent years, government spending on healthcare has also increased.
"Along with heart diseases, various other diseases have become widespread due to climate change. In a word, climate change creates direct or indirect impacts on all areas," the deputy minister emphasized.