Ministerial meeting begins on sidelines of WUF13 in Baku

On May 17, the opening day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) commenced with a new initiative — a ministerial-level meeting on the New Urban Agenda chaired by Azerbaijan.

The meeting, taking place in the mid-term stage of the agenda’s 20-year implementation period, offers a key opportunity to assess progress made, identify existing challenges, and set the direction for the next phase, according to local media.

Based on the agenda’s three transformative commitments — social inclusion and poverty eradication, shared prosperity, and environmental sustainability — the discussion highlights housing as both a fundamental human right and a driver of economic opportunity, resilience, and climate action.

Despite global commitments, access to adequate housing remains out of reach for billions of people, with inequalities disproportionately impacting marginalized communities and residents of informal settlements. At the same time, climate change, urbanization pressures, and geopolitical crises are further intensifying housing challenges worldwide.

The meeting aims to reaffirm global commitment to the agenda, place housing at the core of policy action, and accelerate implementation pathways toward 2036. It will also contribute to shaping global urban policy discussions and advancing integrated solutions that link housing, climate action, and sustainable development.

By Jeyhun Aghazada