The forum is organized once every two years by the United Nations Human Habitat Programme, i.e. UN-Habitat. This is the first time the conference is being held in a metropolis – Cairo, a city of more than 20 million, one of the largest urban areas in the world.
It is therefore an ideal backdrop for discussions on how to make cities more climate resilient, ensure adequate housing for all, build stronger communities and address the challenges posed by rapid urbanisation.
In her opening remarks on Monday, UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclodia Rossbach said the WUF is attracting a growing number of new stakeholders. This platform is perfect for growing and building alliances and partnerships to create positive impact.
He said, “People and organizations are concerned about the future of our planet and understand the importance we place on the development of our cities. The Forum is a massive alliance to support efforts to bring about transformative change.
This is crucial to addressing the global housing crisis affecting more than three billion people.
“It is essential to transform informal settlements and slums and address the plight of homeless people. We have to work together for this.
Cities are our future
Anaclaudia Rossbach says that WUF12 is a consensus-seeking agreement of UN member states on the futureContract for the future) held immediately after passing. The MoU pledges to do more to address all the challenges of the 21st century, including climate change and growing violent conflict, artificial intelligence and growing inequality.
He said the agreement recognizes the importance of a new agenda on housing and cities, the relevance of local and regional government and the challenges and opportunities associated with digitalisation and technology.
All these matters are related to our efforts in the welfare of people living in ‘smart’ cities.
Activities at the local level
This year, the theme of WUF12 is: The Beginning It comes from home: local action for sustainable cities and communities. It emphasizes starting solutions from where people live, work and live their lives.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the forum in a video message, saying that “real progress begins in societies and people’s lives.”
“I value the involvement of local and regional authorities on a myriad of issues at every level, including the United Nations. “In fact, local action is the foundation for green, fair and sustainable cities of the future.”
According to the UN Secretary-General, cities are “powerful engines of social and economic development and catalysts for sustainable solutions.” In this sequence, he urged the delegates to take back innovative solutions and inspiring examples from this forum.
Cities are our homes
Currently, almost half of the world’s population lives in cities. This number is expected to rise to 70 percent by 2050. Rapid urban migration is having profound impacts on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policy.
The greatest growth is expected to occur in Africa, where the urban population is projected to double over the next 30 years.
Ming Zhang, director of the World Bank’s Global Department of Urbanization, Resilience and Land, told UN News that rapid urbanization presents both opportunities and challenges. “I think this is an event where all stakeholders come together to identify these opportunities and challenges that exist within our cities and our habitats.”
Mishka, a young researcher from Mongolia, was one of more than 37,000 participants from around 182 countries who shared her hope with UN News, saying: “I will join everyone and raise my voice to make cities better. At the same time, we are getting information about how other countries are improving their cities.
He said, “I want to say that we have come together to live a better life and make this place better. And each and every one of you is very important to this journey, whether you are a woman, a man, an elderly or a child.”
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacladia Rossbach addresses the UN Forum in Cairo.
Urban Challenges
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the forum’s twelfth session comes at a critical time when the world is engulfed in crisis and war, which has a severe impact on cities, their infrastructure and residents. It has an effect.
“We cannot begin this serious effort to address the challenges of urban development that communities are currently facing in conflict, war and killing, displacement, famine and disease.”
Anaclaudia Rossbach says the voices of women and girls at WUF12 are also louder than ever. One of the inaugural meetings, held on Monday, brought together all those working for women’s empowerment and gender equality. Its purpose was to provide a platform to shape the conversation on women’s rights in urban spaces.
Nearly 400 speakers addressed the five meetings, more than half of whom were women. Anaclaudia Rossbach said: “This is a gender-balanced world cities forum.”
“All discussions will be taken into account, and the key actions you help us identify will be included in the forum’s ‘call to action’ outcome document,” he told the joint session.