BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 19. The success of cities
directly determines the future of the entire world, Jeffrey Sachs,
Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network,
stated during a press conference within the framework of the 13th
session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Trend reports.
"The success of cities means the success of the world. The
success of the world depends on the success of cities," he
noted.
Sachs emphasized that by 2050, the global urbanization rate will
reach 70%, with approximately 2 billion additional people moving to
cities over the next 25 years.
According to him, the most intense growth in urban population is
expected in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, creating additional
challenges for infrastructure, employment, and the social
sphere.
He noted that the cities of the future must become "green,
digital, safe, and productive" spaces where people can live, work,
and raise families.
Sachs also stressed that modern cities face common global
challenges — climate change, technological transformations,
including the development of artificial intelligence, as well as
shifts in mobility and the electrification of transport.
At the same time, along with shared problems, there are distinct
regional differences, including income levels, access to finance,
economic structures, as well as specific challenges in healthcare,
education, and employment, he added.
The third day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum
(WUF13) is underway in Baku.
On the first day, a ministerial meeting dedicated to the New
Urban Agenda, a roundtable of ministers, assemblies of women and
civil society, business sessions, and discussions on urban
well-being were held. A ceremony for raising the flags of the
United Nations and Azerbaijan also took place within the framework
of the forum.
The second day of the forum drew attention with the first-ever
Leaders Summit. High-level discussions on the global housing
crisis, urbanization policy, and urban resilience were held that
day. At the same time, the Mexico City pavilion was inaugurated
within the framework of WUF13. The pavilion was presented as an
important platform for expanding cooperation with the Latin
American region and preparing for WUF14.
WUF13, which has attracted more than 40,000 registered
participants from 182 countries, will continue until May 22. Held
under the theme “Housing the world: Safe and resilient cities and
communities,” the forum brings together governments, international
organizations, experts, and representatives of civil society to
strengthen global cooperation in the field of sustainable urban
development.
