On Monday, 7 October 2013, the seventy-fourth session of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Committee on Housing and Land Management (CHLM) convened at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Sven Alkalaj, UNECE Executive Secretary, welcomed delegates. Delivering the keynote address, UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction Margareta Wahlström encouraged collaboration between CHLM and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR).
Regarding sustainable housing, a thematic discussion panel was held on the topic “Energy efficiency in housing” moderated by Elena Szolgayova, Slovakia.

On sustainable urban development, CHLM Secretary Gulnara Roll introduced proposals for activities on "smart cities" under the 2014-2015 work programme and Nikolai Bobylev, St. Petersburg State University, Russian Federation, discussed how information and communications technology (ICT) can facilitate energy efficient lifestyles.

During lunch, a press conference and lunch reception was held in the park of the Palais des Nations to commemorate World Habitat Day and to showcase an exhibition on post-disaster housing sponsored by the Governments of Canada and Estonia.

In the afternoon, work on sustainable urban development continued with a thematic discussion on "ageing in cities" moderated by Daniela Grabmüllerová, Czech Republic.

On land administration and management, Working Party on Land Administration (WPLA) Chair Elshad Khanalibayli, Azerbaijan, moderated a session providing an overview of recent WPLA activities. The Committee also discussed proposals for possible future activities.

Regarding country profiles on housing and land management, CHLM Secretary Roll presented the draft guidelines for the preparation of the country profile studies, followed by updates by Ukraine, Moldova, Croatia and Tajikistan on their country profiles.

Doris Andoni, UNECE Secretariat, outlined the report "Challenges and Priorities in Housing and Land Management in the ECE Region" based on a survey of member States, and explained its role in shaping the draft Strategy. CHLM Secretary Roll presented the draft Strategy for Sustainable Housing and Land Management in the ECE Region for the Period 2014-2020, stressing it will be discussed and adopted by Ministers on Tuesday.

In the evening, participants attended a cocktail reception commemorating World Habitat Day, sponsored by the Canadian Government.