It is now time to respond rapidly and demonstrate that we are prepared to address climate challenges, Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), said during her speech at the event titled “The Climate-Housing Nexus,” organized within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) held in Baku, APA reports.
In her speech, Rossbach issued a serious warning, emphasizing that the global crisis related to climate change, urbanization, and informal settlements is deepening.
She stated that extreme weather events have increased significantly in recent years: “This is no longer the reality of the future, but the reality of today.”
She noted that more than 1 billion people worldwide lack access to water, electricity, and basic services, and these people live in highly unstable conditions. According to her, families living in informal settlements face danger every day, while children are deprived of safe housing and educational environments.
Rossbach added that this issue must now be brought to the center of international policy: “The issue of informal settlements and housing must be fully integrated into the climate agenda. We are still falling behind in this area.”
She also stated that approximately 2 billion more people are expected to be added to cities in the coming decades, creating a massive need for housing construction.
“The uncontrolled expansion of cities is already causing serious harm to nature. Urbanization is displacing nature, agriculture, and food security,” she said.
The speech emphasized that new urban planning must take into account not only the economic, but also the social and environmental functions of land.
“More compact and denser cities support economic development while also reducing pressure on nature. We must develop cities in a more planned and denser manner so that both people and nature are protected,” Rossbach added.
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