Adequate housing is a prerequisite of human wellbeing that is enshrined in the human right to adequate housing. With more than 2.8 billion people living in inadequate housing, including 1.1 billion in informal housing, and an additional 300 million people experiencing homelessness, the world is facing a global housing crisis. Homeless people and people in inadequate housing are more vulnerable to the impacts of conflict and climate change and more likely to be excluded from decision making and socioeconomic development. Housing is fundamental to Sustainable Development Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities), as well as SDGs relating to poverty (SDG 1), health (SDG 2), gender equality (SDG 5), water and sanitation (SDG 6), clean and affordable energy (SDG 7) and climate action (SDG 13), and contributes directly or indirectly to all other SDGs. How cities respond to rapid urbanization will be key to the world’s progress towards sustainable, inclusive and resilient societies.

The World Urban Forum (WUF) is one of the most important platforms for cities and their stakeholders to address their role for sustainable development and climate action. Established by the UN in 2001, the WUF brings together national governments, international organizations, and stakeholders from many sectors and government levels to discuss, debate, and propose actions that cities and people can take to advance justice and sustainability.

The thirteenth session of the WUF (WUF13) discussed responses to the global housing crises and ways to strengthen housing and housing as a driver of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development. Convened at the half-way mark of the New Urban Agenda (NUA), a 20-year global framework to guide sustainable urban development, adopted in 2016, WUF13 collected reflections on the status and the way forward in implementing the NUA to achieve the SDGs, which have a 2030 deadline.

Co-organized by the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and its country host, the Government of Azerbaijan, WUF13 convened under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities.” The Forum drew attention to the urgent need to address the global housing crisis and ways to support housing as a driver of inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development.

Discussions during the Forum took place in several streams. A series of high-profile dialogues provided an opportunity for global thinkers, practitioners, and decision-makers to share insights and solutions on issues related to the success of the NUA from different perspectives, including:

• The Global Housing Crisis: What is the Plan?
• Transforming informal settlements and slums;
• Housing at the center of crisis recovery and reconstruction;
• The climate–housing nexus;
• The social and economic power of housing; and
• A new deal for housing finance.

Special Sessions at WUF13 created a space to explore unique challenges and opportunities to address issues of global relevance in both national and local contexts. Special Sessions also addressed topics, such as urban resilience, cultural heritage and urban regeneration, waste management and circular economies, and cities’ role for connectivity and regional cooperation.

Roundtables brought together peers from different sectors, such as local and regional governments, business, women, parliamentarians, academia, and children and youth, to exchange views and opinions on urban issues and identify ways to move forward together on global trends and emerging issues.

These core meetings were complemented by event streams focusing on UN agencies, the urban dimensions of the SDGs, voices from cities, networking, workshops, film presentations, and more.

WUF13 convened from 17-22 May 2026 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting were Stefan Jungcurt, Ph.D.; Richard de Ferranti; Vijay Kolinjivadi, Ph.D.; and Timothy Neff, Ph.D. The Digital Editor was Natalia Mroz. The Editor was Leila Mead. Video production by Rosalie Boyle and Andrés Carvajal.