The World Urban Forum supports the ‘Baku Call to Action’ on the global housing crisis

That Standard Call to Actionformed by the voices of 176 countries, sets a common path forward, including:

• Reframing housing as a systemconnecting homes to land, infrastructure, transport, services and economic opportunities rather than treating construction separately.
• Facing interconnected pressures – from rising costs and land speculation to displacement, weak governance and climate shocks – through integrated, people-centred solutions.
• Recognize housing and climate justice as inseparablewhere the most vulnerable communities face the greatest exposure to flooding, extreme heat and environmental risks.
• Increasing climate resilient housingincluding through nature-based solutions, repairs, upgrading informal settlements and strengthening disaster preparedness.

• Turn commitment into actionwith stronger multilevel governance, expanded financing, better data, and greater support for community-based solutions led by local communities.

‘No path’ without cities and housing

“There is no way to achieve that Agenda 2030 without sustainable urbanization and adequate housing.”

With these words, UN Deputy Secretary General Aminah Muhammad spoke at the closing ceremony on the 13th^th World Urban Forum (WUF13), ending the week-long meeting, which opened on Sunday, May 17.

The task now, he said, is to create cities that are inclusive, resilient and able to provide safe housing and opportunity for everyone, 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, put together more than 57,000 participants from 176 countries, including more than 3,000 who joined online.

Baku hosted 11 heads of state, 88 ministers and 130 mayors. Over the course of the week, 579 events were held, while the Forum’s largest-ever Urban Expo attracted more than 74,000 visits. Some 865 journalists covered the meeting.

‘Home is where dignity begins’

For Amina Mohammed, the housing crisis sits at the intersection of almost every major global challenge – from poverty and inequality to climate change, conflict and instability.

“Decent housing will produce clean water and sanitation. Energy to cook food, or heat and light a room. This is about affordability. Security. Security of ownership,” he said.

Cities, he added, are “priority architecture” – expressing what humanity wants to build, how it will be 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.

“Values ​​and principles UN Charter is being damaged. Tensions are sharper and trust is increasingly lost. The divisions are accelerating,” he said.

However, he stressed, cooperation remains the only way to overcome a challenge of this magnitude, especially by pointing to the role of regional governments.

“Local governments are the ones who answer the phone when a hurricane hits. They are the ones who provide water, transportation, housing and decent jobs.”

A watershed moment for housing

UN‑Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach said the Forum had sent a “strong and unified message” about the urgency of action.

“We are at a defining moment for the future of housing. We can no longer afford the luxury of not taking action,” he said.

The housing system, he warned, is under pressure due to inequality, real estate speculation, weak governance, rapid urbanization, displacement and the climate crisis.

“The housing market is clearly failing to meet people’s needs. Billions of people are forced to live in inadequate, unsafe and unaffordable living conditions.”

The forum, he added, made it clear that housing must be seen as more than just a market good.

“Housing is not just a commodity. Housing is a human right.”

Starting from commitment to delivery

Across the Forum, there was broad agreement that political commitments must be balanced with practical solutions.

In an interview with UN News, Francine Pickup, head of the UN Development Program (UNDP) delegates to WUF13, highlighting access to financing as a key challenge, particularly for small and medium-sized cities.

“I think financing is a very important component,” he said, pointing to a project in Punjab, Pakistan, that combined government subsidies, concessional financing and private investment to expand access to housing for low- and middle-income families.

Governance, he added, is equally important.

“Governments need the capacity to plan, and then implement.”

UNDP and the European Union, he said, have been working with around 400 cities in Eastern Partnership countries to help local governments design community-centred solutions and attract investment.

Stefan Priesner, UN Resident Coordinator in India, highlighted the scale of urban transformation taking place there.

“India’s urban transformation is one of the largest-scale and most important development journeys of our time,” he said, noting UN support ranging from affordable housing and climate-resilient construction to transportation and data-driven urban planning.

“The UN system is proud to support this journey as one,” he added, pointing to the contributions of various UN agencies.

Baku handed over the baton

For Azerbaijani officials, hosting this Forum is a historical milestone.

Anar Guliyev, chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture, said WUF13 will be remembered not only for its scale, but also its impact.

“WUF13 will go down in history not only as the largest Forum, but also as the platform that brought housing back to the center of the global political agenda,” he said.

The next session, WUF14, will take place in Mexico in 2028, with member countries invited to express interest in hosting the Forum in 2030.

Time is getting shorter

As the participants left Baku, the sense of urgency was palpable.

With a deadline of 2030 for Sustainable Development Goals as it approaches, Ms Mohammed warned that the pace of change must accelerate.

“The next decade of the New Urban Agenda cannot be like the last decade,” he said.

“We need more ambition, more funding, more action and resilience on climate change, and more political urgency.”

UN News was in Baku covering the summit all week. Discover our stories Here.