As part of preparations for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), the WUF13 Azerbaijan Operations Company has developed the AZS ISO 20121:2026 Event Sustainability Management Systems state standard, which allows for more efficient use of resources and cost optimization.
According to Report, citing the company, the application of the Event Sustainability Management Systems state standard creates concrete benefits in several areas: in management, it ensures structured processes, reduced risks, and increased transparency; in reputation, it raises the level of reliability and compliance before international partners.
The document was formed on the basis of the international ISO 20121:2024 Event Sustainability Management Systems standard and, for the first time, adapted to Azerbaijan's national standardization system.
The updated ISO 20121:2024 standard was approved in February 2024. It aims to integrate sustainability into all stages of event management, taking into account issues such as climate action and accessibility, and to ensure the creation of long‑term, measurable benefits.
"The important point is the breadth of application of this standard. This approach not only covers state institutions. At the same time, it creates new opportunities for the private sector, event organizers, suppliers, and all stakeholders in this field. This means that in the future, the standard will become part of the entire ecosystem in the country.
"In recent years, serious human capital and institutional experience have been formed in Azerbaijan in organizing global events. Today, we are not only a host country but also recognized as a side that shares and even exports knowledge and experience. At this stage, the next important step is to systematize this experience and develop it on the basis of a unified approach. In this context, the standard we present as WUF13 Azerbaijan Operations Company carries special importance. This process fully aligns with the strategic directions set by the country's leadership," the company said.
It was also noted that, in particular, the Clean Environment and Green Growth Country priority included in President Ilham Aliyev's order approving Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio‑Economic Development forms the basis of this approach.
At the same time, Azerbaijan's policy of alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ensures the integration of this work into the international framework. In 2016, by presidential decree, the National Coordination Council on Sustainable Development was established. Azerbaijan's national priorities are fully aligned with the UN 2030 Agenda:
"If we look carefully at the last 10–12 years, starting from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, through the European Games, Formula 1 races, Islamic Solidarity Games, COP29, and now WUF13, we can clearly see a line of development. Each of these events not only stood out for organizational success but also contributed to the gradual formation of management approaches, planning culture, and sustainability principles. In this regard, WUF13 represents a special stage. If in previous years we applied, learned, and developed these principles, today this approach has found its logical confirmation in the form of a concrete standard. We do not consider the presented standard merely a technical document, but as the formation of a unified management model in the organization of events in the country."
The ISO 20121 standard was first created in 2012, inspired by the London Olympic and Paralympic Games. It has been applied to the world's most prestigious events: London 2012, Rio 2016, Paris 2024 Olympics, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and the Davos World Economic Forum. More than 30 countries' experts participated in its development. In 2024, the standard was updated to include environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements, as well as human rights and inclusivity.
The company noted that this standard is already a proven approach in international event management and has been applied across various global platforms: "We apply this international framework at the national level and integrate it into our management practices. As part of preparations for WUF13, 90 percent of the staff of the WUF13 Azerbaijan Operations Company have been trained in this direction. The organization of the event has been certified at all stages in accordance with ISO 20121 and ISO 9001 standards. This shows that we are not only talking about a conceptual approach. The standard is a real, applied, and tested management system. The result achieved within WUF13, namely the adoption of the ISO 20121 standard at the national level, is considered one of the most important legacy components of this event. If we have gained experience until today, this standard is the systematized form of that experience. Most importantly, this approach lays the foundation for a management culture that will be passed on to future generations."
As a result, the ISO 20121:2024 international standard has been translated into Azerbaijani for the first time, adapted to the national context, and officially registered as the AZS ISO 20121:2026 state standard: "This standard ensures that future events will be organized in a more sustainable, more efficient, and more responsible way. Large‑scale events should not only leave good memories. They should also provide strong social and environmental legacies. This standard is today's achievement, tomorrow's benchmark, and the heritage we pass on to future generations."