Ministerial Meeting: New urban initiatives must yield tangible results
Baku, May 17, AZERTAC
The 13th World Urban Forum (WUF13) opened with a ministerial meeting on the New Urban Agenda, chaired by Azerbaijan.
Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, emphasized that housing is no longer just a social issue, but a critical climate, economic, and human dignity challenge. With global urban populations rising, he stressed that housing policies must integrate land use, mobility, green spaces, and social cohesion.
Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, thanked Azerbaijan for organizing the meeting, noting that 2026 is a pivotal year for assessing the New Urban Agenda. She highlighted that 160 countries have already integrated urban frameworks into national strategies, with over two-thirds implementing affordable housing policies.
Guy Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy, stated that the next decade is critical for urbanization policy. He stressed that new initiatives must move beyond discussions and be backed by concrete mechanisms and tangible results.
Krzysztof Szczerski, Poland’s Permanent Representative to the UN, added that despite facing infrastructure and climate challenges, cities remain hubs for innovation. He urged for equitable sustainability and social cohesion at both national and local government levels.
Nga Kor Ming, President of the UN-Habitat Assembly, concluded that stakeholders must look past global messaging and focus on local implementation through coordinated national and regional action over the next ten years.
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