Challenges faced by cities and their solutions discussed at WUF13
Baku, May 20, AZERTAC
A panel discussion on the topic " Two Regions, One Agenda: Lessons for Inclusive Urban Regeneration" was held in Baku as part of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The event featured discussions on the contemporary challenges faced by cities in the Andean, Eastern European, and Central Asian regions. These included sustainable urban development models against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, growing socio-economic inequalities, and the triple planetary crisis characterized by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
During the discussions, it was emphasized that many urban areas suffer from outdated housing stock, informal settlements, inefficient land use, and fragmented governance mechanisms. Furthermore, gaps in basic services such as water supply, sanitation, energy, mobility, and access to public spaces directly affect the population's quality of life.
Distinct approaches across the regions were also presented at the event. It was noted that the Andean region utilizes approaches where communities are directly involved in the process. Within this framework, informal settlements are upgraded alongside housing, infrastructure, and social services, and are integrated into the broader urban system. For the Eastern European and Central Asian region, ongoing efforts toward modernizing the housing stock, increasing energy efficiency, strengthening land governance, and upgrading infrastructure within planned urban development frameworks were highlighted.
Panel participants stated that urban regeneration acts as a vital platform for comprehensively addressing existing challenges. Linking housing provision with basic urban services and implementing effective land-use tools promotes a more inclusive and sustainable development.
In conclusion, it was noted that the practical solutions, policy approaches, and partnership models discussed will make a significant contribution to the "Baku Call to Action" to be adopted within the framework of WUF13.
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