Ministers and senior government representatives from over 30 countries met in Geneva to commit to stronger policies and increased financing aimed at addressing housing affordability and sustainability across the UNECE region, which includes Europe, North America, and Central Asia. The meeting was convened by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) to tackle pressing challenges affecting families and communities.
UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean highlighted the severe financial strain on households, noting that many families spend a quarter or more of their disposable income on housing, with single parents, families with children, and young people most affected. A 2024 UNECE report revealed that housing costs push over a third of low-income families into poverty. The housing sector also faces sustainability challenges, contributing roughly 30 percent of energy use and carbon dioxide emissions, while much of the existing stock is ageing and energy inefficient. Retrofitting older homes is often hindered by high upfront costs and limited access to finance.
During the meeting, ministers reaffirmed housing as a human right and adopted actionable commitments to enhance accessibility. Martin Tschirren, head of Switzerland’s Federal Office for Housing, emphasized that affordable, high-quality housing is crucial for addressing broader social and economic issues, including education, health, transport, and the environment. The ministers stressed the urgent need for integrated, inclusive, and forward-looking strategies to address the housing emergency while acknowledging the diverse and context-specific nature of housing challenges.
Participants recognized that treating housing primarily as a wealth generator has fueled speculation and limited public and private investment. They called for increased public investment and expansion of public, cooperative, social, and community-led housing models, complemented by private sector funding through green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, community land trusts, and blended finance instruments.
To make housing policies more equitable, ministers committed to adjusting land value taxation and curbing short-term tourist rentals to reduce speculation. Other measures include expanding the housing stock through climate-resilient and energy-efficient new construction and retrofitting existing homes. The meeting was part of the 86th session of the UNECE Committee on Urban Development, Housing and Land Management.
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