Cities are more than just collections of buildings; they are spaces for human stories, stated Nga Kor Ming, Malaysia's Minister of Housing and Local Government and President of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) Assembly. Speaking at a press conference during the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), he emphasized that urbanization is transforming societies at an unprecedented rate, requiring a human-centric approach rather than a purely statistical one.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the minister noted that while cities create vital platforms for economic opportunity, innovation, and cultural exchange, they also face mounting challenges such as housing shortages, climate risks, social inequality, and increasing infrastructure demands. Nga Kor Ming highlighted that access to adequate housing, especially for vulnerable populations, remains one of the most pressing issues today, noting that the WUF13 theme, "Housing for All: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities," directly addresses these global challenges.
The World Urban Forum, established by the United Nations in 2001, is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. It serves as a non-legislative platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges of rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, and climate change. The discussions at WUF13 are expected to feed into the high-level meeting on the New Urban Agenda scheduled for July in New York, reinforcing international cooperation and political will for sustainable urban development. "It is now essential to move from general statements to concrete and measurable results," the minister added, stressing the importance of sharing practical solutions tailored to national and local contexts.
