Global leaders gathered in Baku this week for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, where heads of state and senior officials warned that rapid urban growth is placing increasing pressure on housing, infrastructure and climate resilience.
The forum, hosted in the Azerbaijani capital, opened with discussions focused on how cities are evolving in response to population growth, migration and environmental change. Leaders from Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe used the platform to highlight both shared concerns and regional challenges.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev delivered one of the strongest warnings of the session, pointing to what he described as a worsening global housing crisis.
“Today, almost 3 billion people worldwide lack adequate housing,” he said. “More than 1 billion of them live in informal settlements and slums, while more than 300 million people have no shelter at all.”
He argued that urbanisation is no longer only a development issue, but a matter of international stability. “Put it simply, urbanization is becoming a critical factor that directly impacts global stability and security,” he added.
The comments reflect growing concern among international organisations about the pace of urban expansion. According to United Nations projections, nearly 70 per cent of the world’s population is expected to live in urban areas by 2050. Experts have warned that many cities are struggling to keep up with demand for affordable housing, transport and public services.
Alongside discussions about future challenges, several leaders praised Azerbaijan’s urban transformation. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić described Baku as an example of what long-term planning and investment can achieve.
“Whenever I come to Baku, whenever I come to Azerbaijan, and it happens at least once a year, I see big changes,” he said. “I see a lot of progress that you, Azerbaijani people, and President Aliyev did together for the sake of your country.”
“That’s why Baku looks like the very best places in the world,” he added.
Over the past two decades, Baku has undergone major redevelopment, with large-scale infrastructure projects, new transport links and modern residential districts reshaping much of the city’s skyline.
The government has also promoted reconstruction projects in territories retaken after the 2020 conflict in Garabagh, presenting them as models of “smart city” development.
However, speakers stressed that urban issues vary significantly across regions. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov drew attention to the growing environmental pressures facing mountain communities.
“Unfortunately, glacier melting, climate change, population migration, and increasing pressure on ecosystems are negatively affecting cities located in high mountain and foothill regions,” he said.
Japarov proposed the creation of an “International Association of Mountain Cities”, arguing that high-altitude urban centres face challenges that are often overlooked in global planning discussions.
Scientists across Central Asia have repeatedly warned that shrinking glaciers threaten water supplies, agriculture and energy production throughout the region.
Questions of heritage and identity also featured prominently during the forum. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said rapid modernisation should not come at the expense of cultural preservation.
“The city is a vessel for nations’ identity,” he said. “Our initiatives are guided by a commitment to the preservation of traditional Georgian architectural heritage.”
“We believe that modernisation must not come at the cost of history,” he added.
The World Urban Forum, organised under the auspices of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, is regarded as one of the leading international gatherings on sustainable urban development.
Officials said this year’s discussions would continue to focus on housing finance, climate adaptation, urban innovation and inclusive city planning.
The event in Baku runs until Friday (22 May), with policymakers, urban planners and development experts expected to take part in further high-level meetings and public discussions.
The event in Baku runs until Friday (22 May), with policymakers, urban planners and development experts expected to take part in further high-level meetings and public discussions.
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