Global Housing Crisis Dominates High-Level Discussions at World Urban Forum (WUF13)
The 13th edition of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku under the auspices of UN-Habitat, has seen a global housing crisis take center stage in high-level discussions. The United Nations has issued a unified warning about the scale of a phenomenon that has become structural, affecting billions of people and exacerbating urban inequalities worldwide.
Held in Baku, WUF13 Brings Together Thousands of Participants from Governments, International Organizations, Local Communities, Private Sector, and Civil Society
The forum in Baku has become one of the world's premier spaces for sustainable urbanization and the housing crisis, bringing together tens of thousands of participants from governments, international organizations, local communities, the private sector, and civil society.
António Guterres: "Housing, a Human Right at the Heart of a Global Crisis"
In a video address, UN Secretary-General António Guterres painted a dire picture: nearly three billion people today live in inadequate housing conditions, often in informal settlements or slums. The UN chief reminded that housing is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone of human dignity, calling for this issue to be placed at the center of sustainable development policies.
Guterres highlighted that the housing crisis is no longer limited to developing countries, but also affects advanced economies, which are grappling with rising rents, inflation, and pressure on living costs. He drew on his personal experience in Lisbon's disadvantaged neighborhoods, emphasizing the direct consequences of housing conditions on education, health, and future prospects for populations.
The UN Secretary-General welcomed recent international commitments, including the "Pact for the Future" and policy declarations from member states, which now recognize the housing crisis as a global priority. He called for expanding access to safe, adequate, and affordable housing, while accelerating the transformation of informal settlements.
Annalena Baerbock: "Cities Under Pressure from Inequality and Climate"
In another video intervention, UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock noted that over 1.1 billion people currently live in precarious conditions in informal settlements. She warned that the lack of secure housing exacerbates social inequalities, health risks, and vulnerability to climate disasters. According to her, the housing crisis cannot be dissociated from urban planning, financing, and climate resilience issues.
Baerbock emphasized the need for a global approach integrating infrastructure, essential services, and participation from all stakeholders, including local communities, the private sector, and civil society. She recalled that the New Urban Agenda is the primary international roadmap for building inclusive, safe, and sustainable cities, announcing a high-level meeting scheduled for July in New York to accelerate its implementation.
Nga Kor Ming: "Housing, a Moral and Collective Commitment"
President of the UN Human Settlements Programme Assembly and Malaysian Minister of Housing and Local Government, Nga Kor Ming, called for immediate global mobilization. He stated that the WUF13 theme, centered on safe and resilient cities, must be understood as a call to action, not just a slogan.
According to him, the housing crisis affects nearly 2.9 billion people worldwide, with one in four living in informal settlements. He also warned of future climate change impacts, estimating that over two billion urban homes could be affected by 2040.
The Malaysian official emphasized the need to strengthen international cooperation and share national experiences, citing Malaysia's affordable housing policies and large-scale environmental programs. He also advocated for a human-centered approach, calling for integrating the needs of vulnerable populations, youth, and climate-exposed communities into urban policies.
UN-Habitat: A Global Crisis of Inclusion and Resilience
In her intervention, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach reminded that the housing crisis is also a crisis of inclusion, resilience, and human rights. She highlighted that cities are increasingly fragmented between integrated and excluded populations, exacerbating social tensions and economic vulnerabilities.
Rossbach emphasized the direct link between climate crisis and housing policies, estimating that resilience must begin at the household level. She called for rethinking financing mechanisms to prioritize access to housing over speculation. She also highlighted regional initiatives in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe aimed at improving access to housing and modernizing urban infrastructure.
UN-Habitat believes that the solution lies in collective action involving governments, local communities, civil society, the private sector, and international institutions, with no single actor able to address the scale of the challenge alone.
The World Urban Forum in Baku: A Central Space for International Coordination on Urban Issues
The WUF13 in Baku has become a central space for international coordination on urban issues, aiming to accelerate the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and transform policy commitments into concrete actions.
As the United Nations calls for urgent mobilization, the WUF13 highlights a global consensus: the housing crisis is now a structural, global, and multidimensional challenge requiring integrated, rapid, and coordinated responses.
The forum will continue until May 22, with the goal of strengthening international partnerships and defining new strategies for more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities.
