The world is facing a critical juncture as the World Urban Forum opens in Baku, with a pressing housing crisis and the intensifying impacts of climate shocks taking center stage. This forum, organized by UN-Habitat, brings together global leaders and experts to address a crisis that affects billions.
A Global Housing Crisis
The theme of the forum, "Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities," couldn't be more timely. With nearly 2.8 billion people living in inadequate housing and over 300 million homeless, the crisis is poised to worsen as urban populations grow. Anacláudia Rossbach, head of UN-Habitat, describes it as a "global housing crisis" that has now reached the Global North, exacerbated by rising living costs and international crises.
Beyond Bricks and Mortar
Housing is more than just a physical structure; it's a cornerstone of human dignity and urban resilience. The impacts of inadequate housing ripple through healthcare, education, economies, and social structures. Francine Pickup from the UN Development Programme emphasizes the need to view housing as a complex issue, beyond just construction, and to consider the urban setting as a whole.
Informal Settlements: A Growing Challenge
One of the key focuses of the forum is the rapid growth of informal settlements, where residents lack legal land claims and live in precarious conditions. With over 1.1 billion people currently living in slums, and projections suggesting a potential rise of two billion in the coming decades, this issue is critical. UN-Habitat calls for a shift in perspective, recognizing that these settlements often provide shelter for millions in cities.
Rebuilding and Resilience
Against the backdrop of ongoing conflicts and crises, the forum will also address the issue of urban recovery. With over 123 million people forcibly displaced in 2022, the focus is on rebuilding lives, not just providing shelter. It's about restoring communities, creating jobs, and helping people find stability and normalcy.
Climate Crisis and Housing
Experts warn that the climate crisis is a key driver of the housing crisis. Extreme weather events have displaced millions, and estimates suggest climate change could destroy 167 million homes by 2040. At the same time, the construction sector contributes significantly to emissions. The forum aims to explore how to build more housing sustainably, addressing the interconnected challenges of housing and climate.
Collective Action for a Global Coalition
A central theme of the forum is the need for collective action. Bringing together diverse stakeholders, from governments to grassroots communities, is essential to addressing the housing crisis. As Rossbach states, "We cannot solve the global housing crisis alone." The forum aims to strengthen a global coalition to tackle this crisis.
A Decade of Progress
The Baku forum also marks the tenth anniversary of the New Urban Agenda, adopted in 2016. A midterm review of the Agenda will take place in New York City in July, and the discussions in Baku will help assess the world's progress in creating sustainable, safe, and affordable cities.
A Call to Action
As the World Urban Forum convenes in Baku, it serves as a critical moment to address the global housing crisis and its intersection with climate shocks. With a diverse community of stakeholders, the forum aims to spark action and collaboration, offering a platform to explore innovative solutions and strategies for a more resilient and sustainable urban future.
