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Add to Preferred SourcesThe thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) opened on 17 May 2026 in Baku with stakeholder assemblies urging more inclusive, resilient and people-centred approaches to urban development amid mounting global housing and climate challenges, according to a press release by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat). The assemblies convened governments, civil society, local leaders, businesses, women’s groups and youth advocates around shared urban priorities. Discussions addressed housing rights, gender equality, climate resilience, local governance and private-sector innovation. The outcomes will help shape the Baku Call to Action, the outcome document of WUF13. They will also support implementation of the New Urban Agenda.
Opening the assemblies, Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, invited participants to ensure that the Baku Call to Action reflects the voices and priorities emerging from WUF13. The World Assembly of Local and Regional Governments brought together mayors, governors and regional leaders to reaffirm the role of local authorities in sustainable urban development. Participants emphasized that local governments remain central to implementing the New Urban Agenda and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals beyond 2030. Cities face mounting pressure from housing shortages, inequality and climate impacts. Discussions explored multilevel governance, innovative financing, local public services and community-led approaches.
The Business Assembly examined how innovation and collaboration across the housing value chain can deliver adequate, affordable and resilient housing at scale. Participants pointed to regulatory barriers, infrastructure gaps, financing constraints and operational risks slowing housing delivery worldwide. Emerging solutions highlighted included AI-enabled planning, modular construction and low-carbon materials.
Parisa Kloss, CEO and Founder of SmartSylvan, said “the tipping point comes when green infrastructure stops being treated as visual and architectural premium and starts being treated as measurable climate infrastructure.”
Participants also called for stronger coordination between governments, financial institutions, developers and service providers.
The Women’s Assembly underscored placing gender equality, housing justice and inclusive urban development at the center of global urban policy. Kaori Ishikawa, Country Representative in Georgia and Liaison for the South Caucasus at UN Women, highlighted that women continue to face discrimination in housing security, income and access to opportunities despite growing political representation. The Children and Youth Assembly stressed that youth are key actors in addressing housing, climate and inequality challenges. Nearly 70 percent of the world’s children and youth are expected to live in urban areas by 2050. Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Farhad Hajiyev, said the future of cities will also be determined by the generations growing up in today’s urban areas.
The Grassroots and Civil Society Organisations Assembly focused on strengthening collective action around the right to adequate housing and inclusive urban development. Participants stressed that grassroots initiatives should be recognized as long-term drivers of transformation grounded in dignity, redistribution and equitable access to housing, land and public services. Discussions also examined sustainable urban planning, affordable housing, climate resilience and the role of civil society in urban governance. Across the assemblies, a common message emerged that addressing the global housing crisis requires coordinated action placing equity, resilience, inclusion and human dignity at the center. Participants highlighted collaboration and shared responsibility in shaping safe, sustainable and inclusive cities for all.