"As we move forward with this roadmap towards solving the global housing crisis, we see that our world, which is currently 50 percent urbanized, will become a 70 percent urbanized planet in just two decades."
Modern.az reports that this was stated by Jeffrey Sachs, director of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN).
He stated that we are approaching the 2030 target date for the Sustainable Development Goals and are simultaneously facing increasing pressures created by climate change, natural disasters, conflicts, and reconstruction processes:
"We must both continue to build and restore losses. People are increasingly moving to cities, especially in regions like Africa. Here we are mainly talking about a young population and cities that are already facing serious challenges. In many places, basic services are still inaccessible, and people cannot access fundamental opportunities."
C. Sachs also stated that if we view cities as our common refuge, we can better understand the scale of the problems they face:
"Just two days ago, we experienced this reality here in Baku. According to the information provided to me, the city received four times the annual norm of rain in one day. We all understood how important resilience is and how urgent it is to adapt by re-evaluating our plans.
I think this is a very important example of the problems we face globally. Various cities around the world are facing floods, suffering from landslides and fires, and at the same time struggling with security problems. Cities are truly on the front lines.
So what will happen in the future? How can we imagine the future and what innovations will be needed?
We need spaces where we can think together, come together to exchange ideas, and reflect collectively. To imagine the future of cities, we need to bring together researchers, policymakers, and practical experts, that is, people who change policies and implement new approaches."
The professor stated that Baku, as part of the UN system, has already made significant contributions in this direction:
"We must ask ourselves: What kind of future do we expect? What are the aspirations of young people? What are the expectations of women? How can we prepare for different scenarios, understanding that realities may differ?
This is where innovation is vital. We must think differently about the future, consider different scenarios and the complex geopolitical realities we currently face. We are currently exploring the practical directions of this partnership, and there are many ideas on the table. Undoubtedly, the "World Urban Forum" is one of the important platforms in this regard. In two years, the next World Urban Forum will be held in Mexico.
Our knowledge products, such as the "World Cities Report," can also become practical tools for cooperation. In addition, we are reviewing the urban agenda and supporting the open working group on housing issues.
Today, UN-Habitat participates in a number of important intergovernmental processes. We participate in the overview of the Sustainable Development Goals at the High-Level Political Forum held annually in New York. Thus, there are numerous mechanisms for us to cooperate pragmatically and effectively, and our goal is to ensure that all outcomes arising from this partnership initiative ultimately benefit each of you."
