The World Urban Forum in Baku: A Call to Action for Housing and Resilience
The World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat in collaboration with Azerbaijan, is a crucial gathering of global leaders, mayors, urban experts, and various stakeholders. This year's theme, 'Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities', highlights an urgent global challenge: the housing crisis. With nearly 2.8 billion people living in inadequate housing and over 300 million without a home, the situation is dire, especially as cities become the primary residence for 70% of the world's population by 2050.
Anacláudia Rossbach, head of UN-Habitat, emphasizes the crisis's severity, noting its impact on both the Global South and North. The rising cost of living, exacerbated by international crises like the Middle East war and supply chain disruptions, is a significant concern. Housing is not merely about bricks and mortar; it's a fundamental aspect of human dignity, urban resilience, and global stability. The UN warns that the crisis strains healthcare, education, economies, and social cohesion.
The forum's agenda addresses the complex issue of informal settlements, where 1.1 billion people currently reside in slums, with projections indicating a potential increase to 3.1 billion in the coming decades. Children are particularly vulnerable, with an estimated 350-500 million living in such conditions. UN-Habitat advocates for a shift in perspective, viewing these settlements as opportunities rather than problems, as they provide shelter for millions.
Rebuilding after conflict is another critical focus. With over 123 million people forcibly displaced by the end of 2022, many seeking refuge in urban areas, the forum aims to discuss strategies for community recovery. This includes restoring neighborhoods, creating jobs, and helping communities regain normalcy. Ms. Rossbach emphasizes the need for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable rebuilding efforts.
Climate shocks are also a significant concern. Extreme weather events have displaced millions, and climate change threatens to destroy 167 million homes by 2040. The construction sector's high emissions further compound the issue. The forum aims to explore housing solutions that are sustainable and climate-resilient, addressing the interconnected challenges of housing and climate change.
Collective action is a central theme. UN-Habitat stresses the importance of collaboration between governments, local authorities, civil society, academia, communities, and the private sector. The World Urban Forum serves as a platform to unite these stakeholders, with the goal of forming a stronger global coalition to tackle the housing crisis. This collective effort is essential to achieving sustainable urbanization.
The Baku forum also marks the 10th anniversary of the New Urban Agenda, adopted in 2016. A mid-term review by the UN General Assembly in July will assess progress in creating sustainable, safe, and affordable cities. The forum's discussions will contribute to this evaluation, shaping the future of urban development and the global housing crisis.
