On May 17, the first day of the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) commenced with a ministerial meeting on the New Urban Agenda, chaired by Azerbaijan as a new initiative.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, this meeting, which coincides with the mid-point of the program's 20-year implementation cycle, provides a significant opportunity to review progress, identify existing obstacles, and chart the course for the next phase of global urban development. The discussions centered on three transformative commitments: social integration and poverty eradication, shared prosperity, and environmental sustainability. During the meeting, housing was emphasized as both a fundamental human right and a catalyst for economic opportunity, resilience, and climate action.
The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations, is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, designed to examine the most pressing issues facing the world today. As Azerbaijan takes a leading role in these discussions, the focus remains on revitalizing global commitments and placing housing at the center of policy action. Despite international efforts, billions of people still lack access to adequate housing, a situation exacerbated by urbanization pressures and geopolitical crises. Azerbaijan's chairmanship at WUF13 aims to accelerate the implementation of integrated solutions that link housing with climate resilience and sustainable development goals leading up to 2036.
