Increasing urbanization in the world, the problem of housing affordability, informal settlements, and risks created by climate change necessitate a comprehensive approach to urban development, Anar Guliyev, Chairman of Azerbaijan's State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, said at the ministerial meeting on the New Urban Agenda held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku.
Report quotes him as saying housing should be approached not merely as construction, but as an integral part of broader urban policy related to land use, transportation, infrastructure, green spaces, economic productivity, and social cohesion.
"These challenges are not separate problems, but interconnected realities that require integrated solutions. The ministerial meeting is considered one of the main high-level segments of the WUF and has, over the years, become a global dialogue platform on housing, urban development, and sustainable cities," the chairman noted.
According to him, the organization of the ministerial meeting within the framework of WUF13 in a more interactive and result-oriented format is of particular importance: "The new format provides an opportunity for countries not only to share experiences, but also to discuss concrete solutions, demonstrate successful practices, and strengthen collective action."
Guliyev added that today's meeting provides an important opportunity in terms of assessing the results achieved in the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, sharing successful practices, and identifying priority areas of action for the next decade.
"The meeting also serves as a preparatory step for the high-level midterm review process of the New Urban Agenda, which will be held in New York in July of this year and organized under the mandate of the UN General Assembly. This forum held in Baku is not just a discussion platform, but also an important call for the formation of stronger partnerships, institutions, and result-oriented action," he emphasized.