How Azerbaijan showcased urban leadership at WUF13 |
The 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13), hosted in Baku, has become one of the most significant international events dedicated to urban development, sustainable planning, and the future of cities. It exemplifies how state convening power, infrastructure signaling, and policy experimentation to shape norms around sustainability, resilience, and digital governance.
Organized under the auspices of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), the forum has brought together thousands of policymakers, urban planners, architects, researchers, and government representatives from across the world.
According to reports, the six-day event featured more than 550 substantive meetings and side events, covering a wide range of topics related to urban planning, climate resilience, infrastructure development, and smart city solutions.
The accompanying Urban Expo also attracted significant public interest, drawing over 70,000 visitors, highlighting strong engagement not only from policymakers but also from civil society, researchers, and industry representatives.
WUF13 brought together an exceptionally large and diverse global audience. More than 58,000 delegates from 176 countries participated in the forum, alongside over 3,000 online participants.
The high-level attendance further emphasized the political importance of the forum. The event was attended by 11 heads of state, 88 ministers, and 130 mayors, making it one of the most high-profile........