The World Urban Forum (WUF13), organized by UN‑Habitat and hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, has opened with the theme Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities. The forum runs from 17 to 22 May and brings together leaders, mayors, urban experts, civil society, and private sector representatives to address the global housing crisis. Nearly 2.8 billion people live in inadequate housing, while more than 300 million have no home at all. With 70% of the global population expected to live in cities by 2050, the crisis is set to intensify.
UN‑Habitat’s Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach described the situation as a “global housing crisis,” noting that while it has long been most severe in the Global South, it is now increasingly felt in the Global North. Rising living costs and international crises, including the war in the Middle East, are aggravating housing challenges worldwide. Housing is seen not just as shelter but as a cornerstone of dignity, resilience, and stability, with impacts on healthcare, education, economies, and social cohesion.
Discussions at the forum emphasize integrated solutions that combine housing with climate resilience, governance, and local financing. Informal settlements are a major focus, with 1.1 billion people currently living in slums and projections suggesting this number could rise by two billion. UN‑Habitat is calling for approaches that recognize informal settlements as both a challenge and a vital source of shelter for millions.
Recovery from conflict and disaster is another priority. With over 123 million people displaced globally by the end of 2022, many seeking refuge in urban areas, the forum highlights the need to rebuild not only homes but also communities, livelihoods, and social networks in inclusive and sustainable ways.
Climate change is increasingly driving the housing crisis, with extreme weather displacing 20 million people in 2023 alone and projections that 167 million homes could be destroyed by 2040. The construction sector itself contributes 34% of global energy‑related CO₂ emissions, making low‑carbon building and resilient urban planning essential. The forum is exploring how to expand housing without worsening the climate crisis.
A central theme is collective action, with governments, civil society, academia, communities, and the private sector urged to work together. WUF13 also marks the tenth anniversary of the New Urban Agenda adopted in Quito in 2016. The discussions in Baku will feed into the UN General Assembly’s midterm review in July, assessing progress toward creating sustainable, safe, and affordable cities.
