THE RIGHT TO HOUSING

In today's world, the concept of 'home' has evolved to extend beyond the traditional boundaries of a four-wall structure. The issue has now become a highly complex knot, with climate threats, global financial flows, social justice and human dignity all playing a part. The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), held in the Azerbaijani capital, has demonstrated that humanity has reached a critical juncture where established economic models of urban development are no longer applicable. The rate of supply in the property market is critically lagging behind the real needs of the population, as a result of which demand for housing continues to outstrip supply, while deep inequality is growing both within metropolitan areas themselves and between entire cities and regions. Following the success of the historic COP29 climate summit, Baku has once again demonstrated its status as a respected diplomatic and intellectual platform, capable of transforming global discussions into coordinated action at the highest level.

Living adequately

The primary outcome of the Baku meetings can be summarised as a resolute return to the principles of humanism and collective responsibility. The chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture (SCUPA) and national coordinator of WUF13, Anar Guliyev, shared the following position at the close of the forum. He emphasised that the provision of adequate housing and the creation of sustainable communities can only be achieved through collective responsibility, coordinated activity and robust international cooperation. Mr Guliyev highlighted that the forum provided a valuable opportunity for Baku to emphasise the significance of solidarity, partnership and effective multilateral engagement in addressing global challenges. The theme of WUF13 has clearly established the housing issue as a top priority on the global urban development agenda, emphasising that adequate, affordable and safe housing is not just a basic human need but also a foundation for human dignity, social inclusion, economic opportunity and sustainable urban development. Furthermore, Mr Guliyev assessed the true success of any global event not only by the final results, but also by the human connections it forged, expressing profound gratitude to all participants, partners, organisers, interpreters and technical staff, whose collaborative spirit transformed dialogue into collective action.

An absolute priority

The global housing crisis, impacting over 3 billion people worldwide, has evolved into a matter that transcends commercial and urban considerations. At the forum's closing ceremony, Anar Veliyev, associate professor at ADA University and a respected urban planning expert, stated directly that this crisis is not accidental but is the result of deep structural, systemic and governance problems. He is convinced that the right to housing must be recognised as a fundamental human right and defined as an absolute priority. Safe, accessible and affordable housing is an integral part of our common future, forming a single indivisible system together with public spaces, schools, healthcare systems and other vital services. Mr Veliyev emphasised that the next decade must become a period of decisive action to accelerate the implementation of the New Urban Agenda and measure progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. He noted that countries must therefore take clear commitments, document successful programmes and actively share their implementation experiences.

Time for renewal

The global situation is being exacerbated by the fact that many states' national strategies are not aligned with current realities. During a dedicated event, Matthijs van Oostrum, from the Global Research and Analysis Unit of the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), drew the expert community's attention to the fact that the housing policies of most countries were adopted more than ten years ago. The UN expert emphasised the urgent need for states to update their national housing policies to reflect the evolving nature of the crisis, integrating legislation with new global frameworks, including the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Mr van Oostrum has stated that critical issues such as migration, accessibility of public transport and the problem of vacant, unused housing stock are not being adequately addressed in national policies. However, only a small number of countries today focus on the living conditions of local residents and the issue of vacant housing units. Given the physical impossibility of national housing policy covering all aspects of provision, the expert called on states to adopt an integrated approach, identify unprotected areas and integrate them into the strategy review process. He added that the established Open Working Group on Adequate Housing, active until 2029, will actively discuss these integrated models, and UN-Habitat already expects new regulatory developments in this area.

Smart housing systems

However, it should be noted that declaring rights and changing documents is far easier than providing them with a material foundation, especially in an era of rapid climate change. The Baku Call to Action, adopted at the conclusion of the session, openly acknowledges that environmental disasters have become the main catalyst for housing insecurity and forced displacement. Recurring floods, droughts, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution, extreme heat and worsening air quality have a devastating impact on human health, ecosystems and livelihoods. Climate change has a detrimental effect on the suitability of territories for habitation, forcing vulnerable communities to seek alternative accommodation. The Baku Call demands the creation of housing systems capable of strengthening climate resilience, preserving biodiversity and reducing negative environmental impact through nature-based solutions, local community initiatives and locally adapted approaches grounded in the principles of climate justice. The primary obstacle to the establishment of this new urban reality is the paradoxical architecture of global finance. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development, delivered a speech in which she stated that the global financing deficit is a key obstacle to meeting the growing demand for affordable housing. Globally, sustainable development funds have accumulated trillions of US dollars, but this money is not flowing into the most needy regions because of the absence of risk-mitigation mechanisms for private investors provided by multilateral development institutions. Ms Grynspan emphasised the importance of aligning the mobilisation of domestic finance with the attraction of the trillions currently available in global markets but not yet reaching the areas most in need. Achieving the necessary scale of construction requires a blended model. In order to achieve this, a combination of public funds, private investment and household savings is required, as well as effective mortgage systems for the most vulnerable segments of the population, thereby reducing the cost of capital. During her tenure as Minister of Housing in Costa Rica during the 1990s, Ms Grynspan gained first-hand experience of the positive impact that home ownership can have on individuals and communities. She observed that acquiring a property can significantly improve people's lives, preventing societal issues such as internal conflict, violence and widespread disillusionment with the current system.

Climate risks

The Baku forum successfully established essential practical links between climate finance and the needs of cities. Azerbaijan's Deputy Foreign Minister Yalchin Rafiyev made the following statement at a forum side event: "The provision of affordable housing is not an abstract political issue, but rather a fundamental human rights problem." Ensuring equal access to quality living conditions is key to reducing social inequality, while a deficit in this area can trigger a rise in internal instability within states. In the context of modern housing, it is essential to incorporate considerations of climate risks into the design process. However, the constraints imposed by limited financial resources present a significant challenge in this regard. In this regard, Mr Rafiyev cited Baku's momentous achievement at COP29, where nations successfully reached a consensus on a new collective quantified goal. The approved target for financial support of $300 billion will enable needy states not only to implement adaptation measures but also to build climate-resilient homes. The diplomat noted that the COP29 presidency consistently advocated for the equal importance of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, since the most vulnerable regions are simultaneously experiencing an acute housing crisis. He believes that carbon markets, as set out in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (which was agreed in Baku), could also provide an effective source of financing for low-carbon urban planning.

No bureaucracy in housing!

The legislative branch plays a pivotal role in accelerating the pace of housing construction. Nigar Arpadarai, the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP29 and Deputy of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, delivered a compelling address at WUF13. In her address, Arpadarai emphasised that to expedite and reduce the cost of housing construction on a global scale, it is imperative that legislatures establish a flexible and enabling regulatory framework. She stressed the necessity of eliminating bureaucratic barriers and administrative constraints to achieve this goal. She asserts that bureaucratic hurdles and administrative delays can significantly increase the final cost of construction projects, and that parliament's role is precisely to create conditions that remove these barriers. Ms Arpadarai highlighted that contemporary innovative solutions, such as modular construction and 3D-printing of homes, are still more expensive than traditional methods. In order to facilitate large-scale adoption and reduce costs, it is essential to provide systematic state support, encourage active private investment and develop manufacturing capacity in a targeted manner.

A powerful practical step

The key institutional legacy of WUF13 in Azerbaijan was the high-level meeting of the Baku Continuity Coalition (BCC) on urban climate action and sustainable urbanisation. SCUPA Chairman Mr Guliyev emphasised in his address to the coalition meeting that cities worldwide are facing mounting pressures from multiple angles, including the escalating impacts of climate change. The decisions made—or delayed—in the coming years will determine the trajectory of urban development for decades to come. Mr Guliyev described the first meeting of coalition members on the platform of an urban forum as a practical step with the potential to make a significant impact on future collaborative efforts and the exchange of best practices. This development serves as tangible evidence that the process initiated at COP29 in Baku is ongoing, evolving, and strengthening its position within the institutions of the future. It demonstrates to the global community that the substantial commitments made in climate negotiations are now being reflected in urban planning, housing policy, and state-level local budgets. The BCC initiative proposed by Azerbaijan integrates the presidencies of both global platforms, enabling the international community to direct future efforts towards specific financing instruments for sustainable cities.