By Abbas Nazil
The United Nations has warned that the global housing crisis is worsening as climate shocks, conflicts and rising urban populations push billions of people into inadequate living conditions worldwide, a concern set to dominate discussions at the World Urban Forum opening in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum, organized by UN-Habitat in partnership with the Government of Azerbaijan, runs from 17 to 22 May 2026 and brings together global leaders, urban planners, mayors, researchers and civil society representatives to address housing challenges.
According to UN data presented ahead of the forum, about 2.8 billion people currently live in inadequate housing conditions, while more than 300 million people are homeless, highlighting what officials describe as a rapidly deepening global emergency.
UN officials warn that with nearly 70 percent of the world’s population expected to live in cities by 2050, pressure on housing systems, infrastructure and urban services is likely to increase significantly if urgent action is not taken.
UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach described the situation as a global housing crisis that is no longer confined to developing countries, noting that rising living costs and international conflicts are now worsening conditions in both the Global South and Global North.
She explained that housing challenges are being intensified by overlapping crises, including conflicts that disrupt supply chains and economic stability, further increasing the difficulty of delivering affordable housing solutions.
Deputy Director of the United Nations Development Programme Francine Pickup emphasized that the crisis extends beyond physical housing shortages and must be understood as a complex urban systems problem involving governance, finance, climate resilience and infrastructure.
She stressed that solutions must go beyond construction and instead address broader urban planning and social systems that determine how cities function and how people access safe and affordable housing.
A major focus of the forum is the rapid expansion of informal settlements, where approximately 1.1 billion people currently live without secure land tenure or adequate housing, a number that could rise by billions in coming decades if trends continue.
UN data also shows that between 350 and 500 million children are living in slum conditions, raising concerns about long-term impacts on education, health and social development.
At the same time, UN-Habitat is urging policymakers to reconsider how informal settlements are viewed, noting that in many cities they represent the only available housing option for low-income populations.
The forum will also address post-conflict reconstruction, as more than 123 million people were forcibly displaced globally by the end of 2022, with a majority relocating to urban areas in search of safety and shelter.
Officials say rebuilding efforts must go beyond housing provision to include restoring livelihoods, rebuilding communities and ensuring long-term stability in post-conflict and disaster-affected regions.
Climate change is another central concern, with extreme weather events displacing more than 20 million people in 2023 alone and projections suggesting that hundreds of millions of homes could be affected in the coming decades.
Experts also warn that the construction sector contributes about 34 percent of global energy-related carbon emissions, creating a challenge of expanding housing supply while reducing environmental impact.
UN officials say the forum aims to develop integrated solutions that combine housing policy, climate adaptation and sustainable urban development, while encouraging global cooperation among governments, private sector actors and communities.
Ultimately, the discussions in Baku are expected to shape future global strategies under the New Urban Agenda as the world faces increasing pressure to provide safe, affordable and climate-resilient housing for rapidly growing urban populations.
