Published on: 2026-05-16
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Rapidly rising housing prices, climate upheavals, and conflicts leaving millions of people homeless: paths to overcoming the housing crisis are discussed by participantsopening on Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan, the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).
The conference, organized by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) jointly with Azerbaijan, will bring together world leaders, mayors, specialists in urban planning, as well as representatives of governments, the private sector, civil society, and international organizations.
The large-scale goal is to provide housing for the entire world
The forum theme sounds like a call to action: “Provide housing for the world: safe and sustainable cities and communities.” According to UN data, today nearly 2.8 billion people live in inadequate housing conditions, more than a billion in slums and informal settlements, and over 300 million people are effectively homeless. By 2050, when nearly 70 percent of the Earth’s population will live in cities, the problem may become even more acute.
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UN-Habitat Executive Director Ana Claudia Rossbach called the situation no longer just a challenge, but a “global housing affordability crisis” in a UN video interview. “People around the world do not have the opportunity to buy or rent housing,” she said, noting that a problem long considered characteristic primarily of Global South countries is now rapidly spreading to Europe and North America.
Crises exacerbate the housing situation
According to her, the rise in the cost of living has turned into a serious political issue, and international crises, including the war in the Middle East and the related disruptions in the global supply chain, are capable of further exacerbating the situation.
“There is a danger that because of the current crises, the housing situation we are facing today will worsen several times over,” the Rossbalt warned.
More than just a house
The housing issue goes far beyond the topic of home construction – housing is considered a fundamental human dignity, the sustainability of cities, and even global stability. The UN emphasizes that the consequences of the crisis are felt in all spheres – from healthcare and education to the economy and social cohesion.
“The current housing crisis is not directly related to construction,” emphasized the Deputy Head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and Head of the UNDP delegation at WUF13, Francine Pickup, in an interview with UN News Service. According to her, the solution to the problem requires a comprehensive approach — it is necessary to take into account social issues, human rights, gender aspects, and financing questions.
Informal settlements – a problem and a solution
One of the central themes will be the rapid growth of informal settlements. Today, about 1.1 billion people live in slums, and according to forecasts, in the coming decades this number could increase by another two billion. Children are especially vulnerable: their number among slum residents is estimated at 350–500 million.
At the same time, UN-Habitat proposes abandoning the approach that views informal settlements exclusively as a problem. It is precisely such areas that often become the only way for millions of people to obtain a roof over their heads in the city.
Recovery after the conflict
Another topic that will sound especially acute against the backdrop of current conflicts is the restoration of cities after wars and disasters. According to UN data, by the end of 2022, the number of displaced persons worldwide exceeded 123 million people. More than 60 percent of them found refuge specifically in cities.
Loss of a home means not only the loss of property, but also the severance of social ties, loss of sources of livelihood, and a sense of security. Therefore, in Baku, they will discuss not only how to accommodate people left homeless, but also issues related to the long-term restoration of destroyed neighborhoods, the creation of jobs, and the return of people to normal life.
According to Francis Piccap, it is important to consider that modern crises are increasingly focused specifically on cities. “If you analyze the situation related to conflicts, climate change, you will clearly see that the main crisis unfolds in the cities,” he said, adding that these issues and ways to solve them must find reflection in the final Baku call to action.
Climate shocks
A separate discussion block is dedicated to climate. Experts warn that the climate crisis is already becoming one of the main factors of the housing crisis. Due to extreme weather events—floods, storms, and fires—more than 20 million people were forced to leave their homes in 2023 alone. According to estimates, due to climate change, the world could lose 167 million homes by 2040.
At the same time, the buildings themselves remain one of the largest sources of harmful emissions: the construction sector accounts for 34 percent of global CO2 emissions related to energy. Therefore, the forum will seek to answer two questions at once: how to build more housing and at the same time not worsen the climate crisis.
“What we build, how we build, and where we build is reflected in the environment,” emphasized Rossby.
Act with a message
According to her, forum participants will discuss housing financing, urban resilience, reconstruction of destroyed areas, and climate risks. Special attention is given to the need to unite the efforts of various participants – from governments to universities and local communities.
“We hope that all circles of society will be represented in Baku, and that as a result of the forum, we will form strong alliances aimed at overcoming the global housing crisis. It is very important to act together,” said the head of UN-Habitat.
10 years of the New City Agenda
The forum in Baku will also become an important political stage: this year marks the tenth anniversaryNew urban development program– the new urban agenda adopted in 2016. In July, the UN General Assembly will conduct its mid-term review, and discussions in Baku should help determine how far the world has progressed in creating more sustainable, safe, and accessible cities.
The World Urban Forum was established by the UN General Assembly in 2001 and is held by UN-Habitat every two years in cities around the world. About 40 thousand participants from 182 countries have registered to participate in WUF13 in Baku.
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