BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 22. The Baku Call to Action, which serves as the final
document of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in
Baku, aims to adapt housing systems to climate change and protect
vulnerable communities, Trend reports.
"Climate impacts are accelerating housing insecurity and
displacement, disproportionately affecting communities already
facing social, economic and environmental precarity across
neighbourhoods, cities and regions. Repeated floods, droughts,
biodiversity loss, pollution, extreme heat, and worsening air
quality are having devastating impacts on public health,
ecosystems, livelihoods, livability, and overall quality of life.
We call for housing systems that strengthen climate resilience,
preserve biodiversity and mitigate harmful impacts through
nature-based, community-led and locally grounded solutions,
committed to climate justice and supported by environmentally
conscious urbanization and planning. We call for strengthening
people-led localized, indigenous and traditional practices along
with national and local government interventions towards resilient
infrastructure, renewable energy, basic services, disaster
preparedness and prevention, livelihoods and social networks," the
document states.
In addition, the text of the Baku Call to Action emphasizes the
necessity of integrating ecological approaches into long-term
development processes.
"We call for integrated housing approaches that link
humanitarian response, recovery and long-term development,
advancing climateresilient and people-centred urban recovery in
fragile and post-conflict settings and facilitating their access to
development and climate finance," the document reads.
The thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) was held
in Baku from May 17 to May 22.
Convened by UN-Habitat and co-organized with the Government of
the Republic of Azerbaijan, WUF13 was held under the theme “Housing
the world: Safe and resilient cities and communities”.
The Forum hosted 579 sessions throughout the week, while the
Urban Expo brought together 260 exhibitors, innovators and solution
providers. WUF13 featured 11 heads of state, 9 high-level guests,
88 ministers and 76 deputy ministers, and 130 mayors, alongside
representatives of international organizations, financial
institutions, academia, civil society and grassroots
organizations.
A key outcome emerging from WUF13 was the presentation of the
Baku Call to Action, a stakeholder-led document developed through
contributions from civil society organizations, local authorities,
practitioners, researchers, community representatives and other
urban actors. Framed around the urgent global housing crisis, the
Call to Action advocates for renewed political commitment to
adequate housing through people-centred, inclusive and
climate-resilient approaches, while encouraging stronger multilevel
governance, investment and community participation in housing
solutions.
