The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) opened with discussions on how cities can be made safer and more resilient, and how housing can be made more affordable. While progress has been made—around 160 countries have adopted or are developing national urban policies, and more than two‑thirds have introduced housing affordability programmes—UN‑Habitat emphasized that these efforts remain insufficient. Over 1.1 billion people still live in slums or informal settlements, with 120 million more entering such conditions in the past decade.
Solutions discussed included expanding social housing, upgrading informal settlements, and protecting vulnerable populations. Special attention was given to countries recovering from war, such as Syria, where the mayor of Homs highlighted the urgent need for financing and expertise to restore basic services and infrastructure for the 400,000 residents who have returned to damaged neighborhoods.
Climate change was another major theme, as unsafe housing leaves millions exposed to floods, heatwaves, and other extreme events. The construction sector’s role as a major source of greenhouse gas emissions was noted, with calls for low‑carbon construction, resilient urban planning, and climate‑sensitive upgrading of informal settlements. Heavy rain in Baku during the forum’s opening underscored the urgency of climate resilience, as local authorities had to take immediate measures to drain flooded roads.
Homelessness was highlighted as a crisis affecting both rich and poor nations. Lance Jay Brown of the Consortium for Sustainable Urbanization pointed to the growing difficulty of securing affordable housing for low‑income communities, even in wealthy countries like the United States, where homelessness has reached alarming levels.
The forum’s discussions are rooted in the New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito in 2016, which sets global principles for urban development through 2036. Alongside ministerial meetings, thematic assemblies brought together governments, civil society, private sector representatives, and international organizations to address issues ranging from women and youth to the role of civil society and private companies in shaping urban futures. Outcomes from WUF13 will help prepare for the UN General Assembly’s July session, which will review progress in implementing the New Urban Agenda.
