Events focused on safe and sustainable cities were held at the United Nations (UN) office in Vienna and the OSCE headquarters to present the upcoming 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which is set to take place in Baku.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that information regarding the events was shared on the official "X" social media account of "WUF13Azerbaijan." The gatherings were jointly organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the International Organizations in Vienna, the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the OSCE, and the Vienna City Hall.
During the sessions, officials provided detailed updates on the preparatory work for WUF13 in Baku and outlined Azerbaijan's primary objectives within this framework. Discussions covered urban planning, green transformation, climate change, resilient cities, and affordable housing. Furthermore, participants exchanged views on the urban development and transformation experiences of Vienna, Baku, and Basel. Azerbaijan was represented by Gulshan Rzayeva, Deputy Head of Staff of the State Committee for City Planning and Architecture and Deputy National Coordinator for WUF13, and Elchin Allahverdiyev, Head of the Climate Diplomacy Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations in 2001, is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. By hosting the 13th session from May 17–22, 2025, Azerbaijan reaffirms its commitment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goal 11—making cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. This event follows Azerbaijan's successful hosting of COP29, further cementing the country's role as a central hub for international climate and urban policy dialogue.
