WUF13 Opens in Baku With Global Push for Inclusive and Climate-Resilient Cities

The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) has officially opened in Baku, Azerbaijan, bringing together governments, urban planners, businesses, civil society groups, youth representatives, and international organisations to tackle some of the world’s most urgent urban challenges.

Organised by UN-Habitat, the global forum is focusing on the growing pressures facing cities worldwide, including housing shortages, climate change, inequality, rapid urbanisation, and access to sustainable infrastructure. Delegates are calling for more inclusive, resilient, and people-centred approaches to urban development as cities continue to expand at unprecedented rates.

The discussions and recommendations emerging from the forum are expected to contribute to the “Baku Call to Action,” the official outcome document of WUF13, which will help guide the future implementation of the New Urban Agenda and global sustainable development goals.

UN-Habitat Calls for Inclusive Urban Policies

Opening the forum, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach stressed the importance of ensuring that urban development policies reflect the diverse needs and experiences of communities across the globe.

She urged governments, institutions, and stakeholders to ensure that the final outcome document captures the voices of local communities, women, youth, and vulnerable populations who are often disproportionately affected by urban inequality and poor housing conditions.

The World Urban Forum, one of the largest international gatherings focused on cities and urbanisation, serves as a major platform for shaping global urban policy at a time when nearly 70 percent of the world’s population is projected to live in urban areas by 2050.

Local Governments Seen as Central to Urban Transformation

One of the major themes emerging from the forum is the critical role of local and regional governments in building sustainable and inclusive cities.

The World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments brought together mayors, governors, and regional leaders who reaffirmed the importance of local authorities in implementing the New Urban Agenda and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Participants discussed how cities are increasingly facing challenges such as rising housing costs, infrastructure strain, inequality, and climate-related disasters.

Leaders highlighted the need for stronger multilevel governance, innovative financing models, and community-led approaches to urban resilience and housing development.

Cecilia Vaca Jones, Executive Director of the Breathe Cities initiative at the Clean Air Fund, argued that local governments should be recognised not merely as policy implementers but as political leaders capable of shaping the future of urban development.

She also emphasised the growing importance of clean air policies within broader urban planning discussions, saying that air quality should become a central part of the global urban agenda rather than remaining confined to environmental policy debates.

Affordable and Climate-Resilient Housing Takes Centre Stage

Housing affordability and climate resilience emerged as key priorities during discussions at the forum’s Business Assembly.

Participants examined how innovation, technology, and stronger collaboration across the housing sector could accelerate the construction of affordable and sustainable homes.

Stakeholders identified several major barriers slowing housing development globally, including:

• Regulatory and planning restrictions

• Infrastructure shortages

• Financing challenges

• Rising construction costs

• Operational and investment risks

Experts also explored emerging solutions aimed at transforming urban housing systems, including artificial intelligence-assisted urban planning, modular construction methods, and low-carbon building materials.

Parisa Kloss, Founder and CEO of SmartSylvan, highlighted the need to view green infrastructure as essential climate infrastructure rather than a luxury architectural feature.

Participants agreed that governments, financial institutions, developers, and service providers must work more closely together to expand access to climate-resilient and affordable housing worldwide.

Gender Equality and Housing Justice Highlighted

The Women’s Assembly at WUF13 placed strong emphasis on gender equality and housing justice within urban policy.

Delegates discussed the unique challenges women and girls face in urban environments, including unequal access to housing, economic opportunities, public transport, and safe public spaces.

The discussions also focused on ensuring women are actively involved in shaping urban planning and governance processes.

Kaori Ishikawa of UN Women noted that despite improvements in political representation, women continue to experience discrimination in housing security, income equality, and access to opportunities.

Participants stressed that inclusive cities cannot be achieved without addressing structural inequalities that disproportionately affect women and vulnerable groups.

Youth Voices Demand a Role in Shaping Future Cities

Young people and children also played a prominent role at the forum through the Children and Youth Assembly.

With global urban populations continuing to rise, discussions focused on the importance of directly involving younger generations in decisions about the future of cities.

Delegates highlighted concerns about unsafe living conditions, inadequate housing, limited access to opportunities, and environmental risks affecting many young people already living in urban areas.

Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Farhad Hajiyev, stressed that the future of cities will not be decided solely by policymakers and officials but also by the younger generations growing up within today’s urban environments.

Participants called for greater investment in youth engagement, education, and community-led initiatives that empower young people to contribute to sustainable urban development.

Grassroots Organisations Push for Housing Rights

Civil society groups and grassroots organisations used the forum to advocate for stronger protections for housing rights and more equitable urban development policies.

Discussions centred on collective action, community participation, and ensuring access to adequate housing, public services, and land for all residents.

Stakeholders argued that local grassroots initiatives often play a crucial role in driving long-term urban transformation because they are closely connected to the lived experiences of communities.

Delegates also emphasised the need for greater accountability and stronger collaboration between governments, communities, technical experts, and development partners.

A Global Call for Inclusive Urban Futures

A consistent message echoed across all sessions of WUF13: solving the global housing crisis and creating sustainable cities will require coordinated action involving governments, businesses, local authorities, civil society, women’s organisations, and young people.

Participants repeatedly stressed that future urban development must prioritise human dignity, resilience, inclusion, and equal access to housing and public services.

As cities around the world continue to confront rapid population growth, climate pressures, and widening inequality, the outcomes of the Baku forum are expected to shape international urban policy discussions for years to come.

The final “Baku Call to Action” is anticipated to provide a roadmap for governments and institutions seeking to create safer, greener, and more inclusive cities for future generations.