He Baku call to actionMade up of voices from 176 countries, it establishes a shared path forward, which includes:
- Rethink housing as a systemlinking housing to land, infrastructure, transportation, services and economic opportunities rather than treating construction in isolation.
- Facing interconnected pressures – from rising costs and land speculation to displacement, weak governance and climate crises – through integrated, people-centred solutions.
- Recognize that housing and climate justice are inseparableand the most vulnerable communities face the greatest exposure to flooding, extreme heat and environmental risks.
- Expand climate resilient housingincluding through nature-based solutions, modernization, upgrading of informal settlements and strengthening disaster preparedness.
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Turn commitments into actionwith stronger multi-level governance, increased funding, better data and greater support for locally led and community-driven solutions.
‘There is no road’ without cities and homes
“There is no path to achieving the 2030 Agenda without sustainable urbanization and adequate housing.”
With these words, the UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, addressed the closing ceremony of the 13th World Urban Forum (WU13), thus closing the week-long meeting that opened on Sunday, May 17.
The task now, he said, is to shape cities that are inclusive, resilient and capable of providing safe housing and opportunity for all, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
Record participation, global reach
The largest ever World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat together with the Government of Azerbaijan, brought together more than 57,000 participants from 176 countries, of which more than 3,000 joined online.
Baku hosted 11 Heads of State, 88 ministers and 130 mayors. A total of 579 events were held throughout the week, while the largest urban exhibition ever held by the Forum attracted more than 74,000 visits. Some 865 journalists covered the meeting.
‘Home is where dignity begins’
For Amina Mohammed, the housing crisis lies at the crossroads of almost all major global challenges: from poverty and inequality to climate change, conflict and instability.
“Adequate housing leads to clean water and sanitation. Energy to cook a meal, or heat and light a room. It’s about affordability. Security. Security of tenure,” he said.
Cities, he added, are the “architecture of priorities”: they reveal what humanity chooses to build, how it is built, and for whom.
“Home is where dignity begins,” he stressed.
A test of cooperation
The Deputy Secretary-General also warned that the Forum was taking place at a difficult time for global cooperation.
“The values and principles of the United Nations Charter are being undermined. Tensions are more acute and trust is disappearing. Division is gaining pace,” he said.
However, he insisted, cooperation remains the only way to address challenges of this scale, highlighting in particular the role of local authorities.
“Local governments are the ones that answer the phone when the storm hits. They are the ones that provide water, transportation, housing and decent work.”
A decisive moment for housing
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach said the Forum had sent a “powerful and unified message” about the urgency of action.
“We are at a decisive moment for the future of housing. We can no longer afford the luxury of inaction,” he said.
Housing systems, he warned, are under pressure from inequality, real estate speculation, weak governance, rapid urbanization, displacement and the climate crisis.
“It is clear that housing markets are not meeting people’s needs. Billions are being forced into inadequate, unsafe and unaffordable living conditions.”
The Forum, he added, made it clear that housing must be seen not simply as a market good.
“Housing is not a commodity in and of itself. Housing is a human right.”
Baku, Azerbaijan, will host the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) from 17 to 22 May 2026, organized by UN-Habitat and the Government of Azerbaijan.
From commitment to delivery
Throughout the Forum there was broad agreement that political commitments must be accompanied by practical solutions.
In an interview with UN News, Francine Pickup, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) delegation at WUF13, highlighted access to financing as a central challenge, particularly for smaller and secondary cities.
“I think financing is really a critical component,” he said, pointing to a project in Punjab, Pakistan, where public subsidies, concessional financing and private investment were combined to expand access to housing for low- and middle-income families.
Governance, he added, is equally crucial.
“Governments need capabilities to plan and then execute.”
He noted that UNDP and the European Union have worked with around 400 municipalities in the Eastern Partnership countries to help local authorities design citizen-centred solutions and attract investment.
Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator in India, highlighted the scale of the urban transformation taking place there.
“India’s urban transformation is one of the largest-scale and most consequential development journeys of our time,” he said, highlighting UN support ranging from affordable housing and climate-resilient construction to transportation and data-driven urban planning.
“The United Nations system is proud to support this journey as one,” he added, noting the contributions of multiple UN agencies.
Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture of Azerbaijan, Anar Guliyev, in his speech at the closing session of WUF13.
Baku passes the baton
For Azerbaijani officials, hosting the Forum marked a milestone.
Anar Guliyev, chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, said WUF13 would be remembered not only for its scale, but also for its impact.
“WUF13 will go down in history not only as the largest Forum, but also as the platform that returned housing to the center of the global political agenda,” he said.
The next session, WUF14, will be held in Mexico in 2028, and Member States will be invited to express interest in hosting the Forum in 2030.
time is running out
As the participants left Baku, the sense of urgency was unmistakable.
As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals approaches, Ms Mohammed warned that the pace of change must accelerate.
“The next decade of the New Urban Agenda cannot be like the last,” he said.
“We need more ambition. More funding. More climate action and resilience. More political urgency.”
UN News I was in Baku covering the Summit throughout the week. Find our stories here.