In the modern world, against the backdrop of global migration, the climate crisis, and the rapid influx of population into cities, the issue of sustainable urbanization has become central to states' national security and economic sustainability strategies. It was in such a responsible period that the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in Baku with the participation of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), was etched into the history of global urban planning as a new stage. The gathering of more than 57,000 representatives, government officials, and urbanism experts from 176 countries in Baku once again confirmed Azerbaijan's unwavering status as a global dialogue platform.
The high-level organization of this large-scale event in our country is a clear example of President Ilham Aliyev's far-sighted foreign policy, as well as Azerbaijan's growing geopolitical weight in the international arena. In just a few days, Baku became the main brain center where humanity's future housing policy, inclusive development, and ecological sustainability were managed.
It is no coincidence that the Forum was dedicated to such a fundamental topic as “Housing for all: safe and sustainable cities and human settlements.” According to UN statistics, today approximately 2.8 billion people on Earth live in unsatisfactory conditions, deprived of basic necessities. The Baku Forum became a platform not only for articulating problems but also for finding real solutions. The adoption of the “Baku Call to Action” document, the most important global outcome of the event, is a significant point in urban planning diplomacy.
The main philosophy of the document requires that previously adopted declarations and theoretical programs now move into the realm of real implementation. Housing provision is not just a construction or infrastructure project; it is also the foundation of social justice, human dignity, and economic equality.
This document envisages the expansion of climate financing, the integration of housing policy with social protection and ecology, and will be discussed as a global roadmap at the UN General Assembly meeting in New York in July 2026.
One of the most strategic aspects of the Baku Forum for Azerbaijan was the presentation to the world community of the unparalleled reconstruction work carried out by our country in the post-conflict period. The "Smart City" and "Smart Village" projects built from scratch in the liberated Karabakh and East Zangazur regions caused particular admiration among forum participants. The rebirth of territories completely devastated by Armenia during 30 years of occupation as a green energy zone is a demonstration of Azerbaijan's internal intellectual and economic power.
Within the framework of the Forum, the “Smart and Sustainable Settlements for Safe Return” (4SRP) program, presented at the initiative of Azerbaijan, in joint partnership with UN-Habitat, the International Organization for Migration, and the Baku Climate and Peace Action Center, is a great contribution to international urban planning science. This initiative will play the role of a new global standard encompassing the principles of reconstruction of conflict-affected regions worldwide, safe repatriation of internally displaced persons, and ecological adaptation.
Consequently, the WUF13 session not only demonstrated the great trust and gratitude of international organizations towards Azerbaijan, but also officially inscribed Baku's name in history as the architect of building future cities that are safer, environmentally friendly, and inclusive.
