Hosting the 13th session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku was of significant importance for advancing global discussions on the future of cities, Turkish political expert Esma Özdaşlı said in an interview with APA.
According to her, cities today are no longer merely physical spaces where people live. They have become centers of economic transformation, environmental sustainability, technological advancement, and social change.
“Today, issues related to the future of cities are no longer confined to the local level but have become part of a shared global agenda. From this perspective, holding WUF13 in Baku was an extremely important event,” the expert emphasized.
Esma Özdaşlı noted that Baku’s hosting of such a large scale international event once again demonstrated Azerbaijan’s capacity and growing reputation in organizing major international gatherings. She stressed the importance of bringing together government representatives, academics, local authorities, urban planning professionals, and international organizations from different countries on a single platform.
The expert stated that the diversity of participants once again highlighted the necessity of addressing challenges related to the future of cities through a multidimensional approach.
“During the forum, discussions extended beyond technical issues to include topics that directly affect people’s daily lives, such as social resilience, environmental sustainability, and quality of life. In this regard, WUF13 made an important contribution not only to the field of urban development but also to global cooperation and the culture of collective thinking,” she added.
Esma Özdaşlı described WUF13 as one of the key events demonstrating Azerbaijan’s increasingly visible role on international platforms. According to her, Baku is becoming an attractive center not only for regional events but also for broader international gatherings.
She noted that such events showcase not only a country’s physical infrastructure but also its diplomatic capabilities, organizational skills, and capacity to build international trust.
“The overall performance demonstrated by Baku throughout the forum showed that this process was managed successfully,” the expert stressed.
The Turkish political analyst also stated that the themes highlighted during the forum reflected the shared nature of global concerns regarding the future of cities. In her view, climate change, rapid urbanization, energy efficiency, environmental pressures, disaster resilient infrastructure, and digital transformation are among the key priorities of modern urban governance.
The expert emphasized that the forum underscored the fact that the future of cities cannot be assessed solely through the lens of physical growth.
“The modern concept of urban planning is not limited to the construction of new buildings. It requires preserving quality of life, ensuring environmental sustainability, and adopting a planning model that places people at the center,” she said.
Esma Özdaşlı highlighted that the concept of people centered urban planning remained a major focus throughout the forum. She noted that important messages were delivered regarding the need to evaluate cities not only on the basis of economic indicators but also in terms of social inclusion, accessibility, safety, and environmental balance.
The expert added that the growing connection between technology and urban governance was another key topic of discussion at the forum.
According to her, debates about the future of cities are no longer limited to architecture and infrastructure. Social adaptation, environmental resilience, and quality of life have also become central pillars of urban planning.
Esma Özdaşlı pointed out that Baku has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years in areas such as transport infrastructure, urban aesthetics, and the development of public spaces.
“Alongside the strong sense of modernization visible throughout the city, the attention devoted to preserving historical and cultural heritage creates an important balance. While many cities struggle to maintain their historical identity during rapid transformation processes, Baku’s efforts to combine modern urban planning with cultural memory can be regarded as an interesting example for international participants,” she noted.
According to the expert, one of the most significant outcomes of WUF13 was demonstrating that issues related to the future of cities can no longer be viewed solely as the responsibility of local authorities.
“Today, urban planning has become a multifaceted field closely linked to the economy, environment, technology, and human life. This is precisely why forums of this kind are not merely venues for exchanging ideas but also platforms where common visions are shaped and new opportunities for cooperation emerge,” Esma Özdaşlı emphasized.
She added that the principles of sustainable development, sustainable cities, and people centered planning will become even more relevant in the years ahead, and that WUF13 will be remembered as one of the platforms that made a significant contribution to global discussions in this area.
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