Baku Call to Action adopted at WUF13 to address global housing crisis

The final version of the Baku Call to Action has been published following the conclusion of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), which ended today in Baku.

The Baku Call to Action serves as the forum’s outcome document, prepared by stakeholders and urging renewed efforts to address the growing global housing crisis, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

The document was developed through a broad consultation process and reflects the priorities and recommendations shaped during discussions at WUF13 and in the months leading up to the forum.

More than 57,000 people (including over 3,000 online participants) from 176 countries took part in the forum, along with representatives of local authorities, various organisations, civil society, business, researchers, and practitioners.

The document is described as the result of one of the largest and most diverse stakeholder engagement processes in the forum’s history.

The Baku Call to Action is not an intergovernmental negotiated agreement but reflects shared priorities and practical measures emerging from forum discussions.

It is intended to serve as a roadmap for collective responsibility and closer cooperation in addressing housing challenges in different contexts.

Rethinking housing systems

One of the key messages of the document is that housing should not be viewed solely as the construction of buildings. It calls for housing systems more closely integrated with land use, infrastructure, transport, public services, and economic opportunity.

Discussions at WUF13 repeatedly highlighted that the housing crisis is driven by interconnected factors, including rising prices, land speculation, forced displacement, weak governance systems, and the impacts of climate change. The Baku Call to Action stresses that these challenges require moving away from fragmented approaches toward more integrated, people-centred solutions.

Housing and climate justice

The document also emphasises the growing link between housing and climate change, noting that the most vulnerable communities are often those most exposed to climate risks such as flooding, extreme heat, and environmental degradation.

It calls for increased investment in climate-resilient housing systems through nature-based solutions, upgrading and retrofitting existing housing, community-led initiatives, and improved disaster preparedness.

From commitments to implementation

Beyond outlining challenges, the document focuses strongly on implementation and shared responsibility. It urges stronger multi-level governance, expanded financing mechanisms, improved access to data, greater support for local authorities, and increased capacity for communities to implement solutions on the ground.

As repeatedly emphasised during WUF13, many cities and communities around the world are already developing effective solutions. The Baku Call to Action aims to consolidate this experience and translate it into collective action beyond the forum.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov