Ministerial - Ministerial Meeting on the New Urban Agenda (NUA) - Opening Segment (WUF13)

Madam Anna Claude Rosberg, Executive Director of UN Habitat.
Excellency, Honorable Ministers, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, good morning.
My name is Anna Gulf.
I'm Chairman of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture of the Republic of Azerbijan and WUF 13 National Coordinator.
It's my honor to welcome you to Baku to the session of the World Urban Forum and to this ministerial meeting.
At the time of growing urban challenges, this discussion is particularly timely and important.
For Azerbijan hosting Wolf 13 is both a privilege and a profound responsibility.
We are very proud that Baku, a city where rich history and modern transformation meet has become a global platform for this important milestone, marking ten years since the adoption of the new urban agenda and the midpoint of its 20 year implementation journey.
This gathering in Baku carries special significance because it brings together global reflection and local experience.
As cities around the world face the growing pressure from rapid urbanization and housing shortages to climate risk and post conflict recovery, the need for stronger international cooperation and practical solutions has never been greater.
In this context, W 13 is not only a symbolic moment of reflection, but a strategic opportunity for renewed action.
The new urban agenda adopted in 2016 gave the world the shared vision for sustainable urban development, one centered in inclusion, resilience, prosperity, and environmental responsibility.
Ten years later, we gather not simply to review progress, but to ask a more important question, how do we accelerate delivery in decade ahead? Today, that question begins with housing.
The theme of W 13, housing the world safe and resilient cities and communities, place housing at the very center of our global urban discussions.
Housing is not only a social issue, it is an economic issue, a climate issue, a development issue, and fundamentally a human dignity issue.
Housing shapes access to opportunity, education, health care, and livelihoods.
It reflects whether urban growth is planned or fragmented, resilient, or vulnerable.
This is why the housing dimension of the new urban agenda must remain at the heart of our policy decisions.
Across the world, we see rising urban populations, affordability pressures, informal settlements, climate related displacement, and growing demands for resilient infrastructure.
These are not isolated challenges.
They are interconnected realities requiring integrated solutions.
Housing must therefore be approached not only as construction, but as a comprehensive urban policy linked to land use, mobility, infrastructure, green spaces, economic productivity, and social cohesion.
Excellence.
The ministerial meeting is one of the key high level segments of the World Urban Forum.
Since the early sessions of the forum, it has evolved over time and has become an important and trusted platform for global dialogue on housing, urban development, and sustainable cities.
We are especially pleased that at Wolf 13, the ministerial meeting has been reimagined and transformed into a more interactive and outcome oriented platform.
This new format allows us not only to share national experiences, but also to discuss concrete solutions, showcase best practices, and strengthen collective actions, action on the many dimensions of housing and urban development.
We are also pleased to underline the strong high level participation at Wolf 13.
The strong engagement reflects the importance of the forum and is also the result of our close partnership with Yen habitat built on mutual trust and common understanding of our responsibility for sustainable urban futures.
Today's meeting provides an important opportunity for ministers to reflect on progress achieved, share good practices, and identify priority actions for the remaining decade of implementation of the new urban agenda.
It also serves as a preparatory meeting towards the UN General Assembly mandated high level midterm review of the New Urban Agenda, which will take place in New York in July this year.
The discussions across today's national statements and thematic panels will help shape our collective vision toward 2036.
The chair summary from today's meeting will serve as an important input to that process and to the broader midterm review of the New Urban Agenda.
But beyond reports and declarations, what matters most is implementation.
Let us use this moment in Baku not only to reflect, but to recommit to stronger partnerships, stronger institutions, and stronger delivery for people everywhere.
I wish all of us productive discussions and a successful ministerial meeting.
Welcome once again to Baku.
I'm sure you will enjoy not only the certain discussions and dialogues, but also the beauty of the city and hospitality of our people.
Thank you very much.
I now have the pleasure to invite miss Anna Claudia Rosberg, Executive Director for PN Habitat, to deliver her opening remarks.
Madam, you have the floor, please.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Also, our host in the beautiful Baku.
Your Excellency, President of Un Hab Chat Assembly, my friend, Minister Core, our friend from New York, Ambassador Christoph, permanent representative from Poland to the United Nations and the co facilitator of the New Urban Agenda Review.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, let me begin by thanking the government of the Republic of Azerbijan and you, Mr.
Chair, for convening this important ministerial meeting on the New Urban Agenda on the opening day of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum.
I am honored to join you today as we mark a critical moment.
Ten years ago, member states adopted the New Urban Agenda in Quito, Ecuador at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development.
Ten years from now, we will reach the end of the agenda's 20 year implementation horizon.
This means that 2026 is not only a year for review, it is a year for course correction.
It is a year to ask what has worked, what has not moved fast enough, and what must now be done differently.
The New Urban Agenda remains the most important global framework for housing and sustainable urbanization.
It reminds us that cities and human settlements are not only places where challenges concentrate, they are also where solutions can be delivered at scale.
Over the past decade, we have seen real progress.
National urban policies are now widely recognized as tools for coordinated urban development.
Around 160 countries have adopted or are developing urban policy frameworks or have embedded them within national development strategies.
More than two thirds of countries have adopted national housing policies with affordability being the most commonly addressed dimension.
Nearly 300 cities and sub national governments have published voluntary local reviews, helping to connect local action with national priorities and global commitments.
Urban priorities are also increasingly reflected in climate policy with the share of nationally determined contributions containing strong urban content rising from 49% in 2021 to 80% in 2025.
These are important achievements, but they are yet not enough.
The Secretary-General report on progress in implementing the New Webban agenda shows that implementation remains uneven and in many areas insufficient.
Too often, commitments have not yet translated into sustained investment, showing local delivery or measurable improvements in people's lives.
Housing shows this very clearly.
Today, more than 1 billion people live in slums or informal settlements worldwide with over 120 million born in or moving through slums only in the past decade.
Housing affordability pressures are affecting households across regions and income levels as housing construction continues to lag behind demand in many cities.
In homelessness, one of the most extreme manifestations of housing deprivation is an increasing challenge across both developed and developing countries.
These are not just isolated problems in a handful of cities or countries.
They are common affronts to development across the globe, where, where people live shapes their access to work, education, health, transport, services, safety, and opportunity.
Their lives are also exposed to climate and disaster risks.
In many cities, the people most affected by inadequate housing are also those most exposed to floods, heat, landslides, and other hazards.
At the same time, the Secretary-General report highlights that urban risk exposure is rising rapidly with more than 80% of cities having warmed significantly over the past two decades.
This is why excellence is.
The focus on housing at Wolf 13 is so important.
If we want to accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda, adequate housing must be treated as a central driver of sustainable development, not just as a standalone sector and not only as a matter of housing supply.
It is a question of land, it is a question of infrastructure, it is a question of finance, it is a question of governance, climate action.
It is a question of human rights excellences.
The next decade must therefore be a decade of implementation at scale.
This means integrated housing policies that prioritize those most at risk of being left behind, including people living in informal settlements and those experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
It means large scale, slum upgrading, informal settlements improvement, anchored in participation, tenure security, basic services, climate resilience, and the prevention of forced evictions.
It means connecting housing with land, transport, jobs, public space, infrastructure services so that housing becomes a pathway to inclusion and opportunity.
It means stronger financing systems, including public investments, municipal finance, land based instruments, development finance, and partnerships that support long term affordability.
It also means multilevel governance, national governments, local regional governments, communities, the civil society, the private sector, and development partners all have important roles to play.
But these roles must be coherent, adequately resourced, and with accountability in mind.
Finally, it means better data and monitoring.
We cannot accelerate what we cannot measure.
This ministerial meeting is therefore an important opportunity to take stock of the first decade of implementation, to place adequate housing at the center of the next decade of urban transformation, and to build momentum from Baku to New York ahead of the high level meeting of the General Assembly on the midterm review of the new urban agenda in July.
UN HPTT stands ready to support member states, local, regional governments and all partners in this effort.
Our new strategic plan places housing, land, and basic services, transformation of informal settlements at the heart of our work and the acceleration of sustainable urbanization.
As we open today's discussions, I encourage ministers and all participants to share both achievements and lessons.
What has worked, what has blocked progress, what partnerships, policies, and investments are needed to deliver adequate housing for all and accelerate implementation of the New Urban Agenda to 2036.
The midterm review must be more than a moment of reflection.
It must be a turning point.
Let us use this meeting to renew political commitment, strengthen implementation, and ensure that the next decade of the New Urban Agenda deliver real improvements in people's lives.
Thank you.
Thank you, Madam Executive Director.
We now have the honor of hearing remarks from Mr.
Guy Bernard Ryder and the Secretary-General for P, delivering a message as the representative of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General.
Honorable Ministers, Executive Director Rossbach, Excellency's Distinguished delegates.
It's an honor to address this ministerial meeting of the New Urban Agenda at the 13th session of the World Urban Forum in Baku.
Ten years ago, member states adopted the new urban agenda at the third UN Conference on housing and sustainable urban development in Quito.
The agenda was built together by member states, UN entities, policy experts, local and regional governments, the private sector, and civil society.
Marginalized voices were heard throughout, and the result was a shared vision rooted in inclusion, dignity, and the right to the cities and human settlements that are inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
That vision is more urgent today than ever.
One in four people lives in informal settlements or slumps, living in conditions that are harmful to their health, their safety, and their opportunities.
The new urban agenda was adopted to rise to exactly these challenges.
Today, as we reach the midpoint, we must reflect on the progress achieved and renew political momentum to deliver on this shared vision.
Two years ago, the PAC for the future responded to this need with renewed commitment.
Under its action six, member states committed to ensuring access for all to adequate, safe, and affordable housing, and to supporting developing countries in planning and implementing resilient and sustainable cities.
Delivering on these commitments requires action on several fronts, stronger partnerships, effective multilevel governance, improved access to financing for development, countries and cities and investment in data, technology, infrastructure, and capacities.
Your discussion today are critical to guiding implementation and informing the high level meeting of the UN General Assembly on the review of the New Urban Agenda this July here in New York.
Ladies and gentlemen, despite the resource constraints, efforts to transform the UN to better respond to complex challenges they're advancing.
The review of the New Urban Agenda offers a strategic opportunity to strengthen multilateralism through enhanced engagement of local governments and local action.
And the Pact for the Future underscores the essential role of local and regional authorities, recognizing that cities are where future risks and opportunities converge.
It's in this context that the Secretary-General was requested to provide recommendations on how engagement with local and regional authorities could advance the 2030 agenda, particularly the localization of the sustainable development goals.
I want to encourage you to draw on the recommendations from the Secretary-General report.
This with a view to strengthening institutional mechanisms for this engagement with local and regional authorities.
The next ten years are going to be decisive.
As we look ahead to the implementation of the new urban agenda, we're called to advance these commitments with this renewed urgency and ambition that can deliver tangible results for people, especially those who are furthest behind.
We look forward to your ideas, your leadership, and your commitment to action.
I wish you luck and thank you.
I now have the pleasure to invite His Excellency, Mr.
Krišto, permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations, co facilitator of the intergovernmental process for the political declaration of the midterm review of the New Urban Agenda to deliver his remarks.
Excellencies, Distinguished Ministers, distinguish delegates, Madam Executive Director.
Ladies and gentlemen, it is an honor to join you today as the ministerial meeting.
I convened in the framework of the 13 session of the World Urban Forum.
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the government of Azerbijan, to your habitat, and to all partners involved in organizing this important gathering.
Today's meeting comes at a critical moment for the global urban agenda.
Nearly a decade after the adoption of the new urban agenda, our cities continue to face increasingly complex interconnected challenges, including housing shortages, inequalities, climate change effects, displacement and growing pressure on infrastructure and basic services, as we already heard from the Madam Executive Director.
At the same time, cities also remain centers of opportunity, economic growth, innovation, and resilience.
The high level midterm review of the New Urban Agenda mandated by the United Nations General Assembly and to be held in New York on 16th and 17th of July this year provides an opportunity, important one to assess progress on implementing the Nerban agenda at all levels to identify gaps and challenges and to renew political momentum towards achieving sustainable urban future.
Poland is strongly committed to this goal, which we demonstrate on international arena.
One of the example of this engagement was the 11th World Ulman Forum, which was held in Poland in 2022 in the city of Katowice.
Currently, myself, together with permanent representative of Malawi to the United Nations, Ambassador Agnes Chimbiri-Molande, I have an honor of co facilitating the intergovernmental process on the political declaration to renew commitment and accelerate the implementation of the Nerban agenda.
We are resolved to leading an open, transparent and inclusive process that reflects the priorities and experiences of member states.
We perceive the process as yet another opportunity for international community to renew commitment to sustainable development that leaves no one behind.
It is very timely review as urban population continues to grow in towns and cities of various sizes across the world.
We need to ensure that all urban areas become places of social cohesion, economic opportunity, and resilience to shocks.
Today's weather shows us the best illustration of how resilient the city should be to the shocks coming from nature this time.
Excellencies, the success of the implementation of the Ne urban agenda depends not only on global commitments, but also on implementation at the national and local levels.
It also depends on effective multilateral cooperation and strong partnership among governments, intergovernmental organizations, local and regional authorities, civil society, the private sector, and the United Nations system.
That's what I believe the World Wordan Forum is all about.
The partnership and the joint commitment and the multile governance and the civil society partnership.
Thank you all for coming.
Therefore, the discussions taking place here in Baku will be extremely valuable.
The World Wn Forum offers a unique platform where all stakeholders can meet, discuss, share real life best practices and challenges related to the advancement of the sustainable cities, big metro policies, or small towns, capital or secondary ones for all.
I look forward to the constructive discussions today and to continued collaboration in the lead up to the high level midterm review, which I hope will end up in a successful adaptation of the political declaration.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, Excellency.
I now have the pleasure to invite His Excellency, Mr.
Nga Ko Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government of Malaysia, and President of the United Nations Habitat Assembly to deliver his remarks.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Madam Ed, Excellency Ministers, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
According to Eastern belief, rain brings fortune.
May this morning's heavy rain turn out to be a shower of blessings that brings fortune to all of you.
It is a privilege and honor to join you for this ministerial meeting held in the framework of the 13 World Urban Forum.
At the outside, I wish to thank the government of Azerbizan and UN Habitat for convening this important discussion at a particularly significant moment for the global urban agenda.
The theme of this year's World Urban Forum, housing the world, safe and resilient cities and communities.
It reminds us that adequate and affordable housing is not a technicality.
It is the cornerstone of sustainable development.
As president of the UN Habitat Assembly, I wish to underscore the importance of translating our global commitments into practical action at the national and local levels, emphasizing the importance of localizing the new urban agenda.
Our discussions today and at the upcoming high level midterm review in New York are vital to re evaluate critical actions we need to take to achieve the sustainable development goals in the next five years.
Here, the UN Habitat Assembly continue to serve as the highest decision making body, providing the strategic guidance necessary for our ship success.
Without shared responsibility, there is no shared prosperity.
So as ministers, we are not just managers of infrastructure.
We oversee the transition of policy into practice, ensure action lead to positive outcomes for the people we serve.
Last, blah, Malaysia remains committed to advancing inclusive, resilience, and sustainable cities for all.
I humbly look forward to today's discussion.
Thank you, job Sato.
Thank you, Excellency.
Excellency, distinguished delegates, before we conclude the opening segment, allow me to share a few practical arrangements.
Immediately following this opening segment, national statements will be delivered from 10:00 A.M.
To 130 noon in two parallel sessions chaired by Poland, Malaysia, and Kenya respectively.
Interpretation will be available in the six official United Nations languages as well as in Azerbijani.
Delegations represented at ministerial level will be invited to speak first, followed by delegations represented at other levels.
All member states who wish to speak will be given the opportunity to be heard.
To allow all delegations to take the floor, speakers are kindly requested to strictly limit their statements to 3 minutes.
The speaker's list outlining the order of speakers have been shared with all delegations in advance of this meeting and is also made available at the entrance of this meeting room.
The delegations from the letter A to L will be in round table room A and from the letter M to Z will be in the round table room B.
You will also find dedicated conference officers there who can assist delegations in locating the rooms for their respective sessions.
The lunch will be served from 12:00 P.M.
To 2:00 P.M.
At the VIP lounge East Wing, at the levels two and level four of the Baku Olympic Stadium.
The volunteers will be available to guide the delegations.
The meeting will resume at 2:00 P.M.
With three high level thematic panels focusing on housing for social inclusion and ending poverty, housing for urban prosperity and opportunities for all, and housing for environmentally sustainable and resilient urban development.
Following panel discussions at the closing segment, I will have the honor of presenting an initial chair summary for the discussions held here today.
A more detailed version of this summary will then be prepared and made available before the official closing of WO 13 on Friday 22 May.
I hope you are all ready for a productive and engaging day.
I now invite heads of delegations to proceed to the group photo before moving to the national statement session.
Please come on the podium for the taking photo.
Thank you.
Thank.