12th World Urban Forum Kicks Off in Cairo: Focusing on Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities

Introduction

The twelfth session of the World Urban Forum (WUF12), convened by UN-Habitat and co-organized with the Government of Egypt, is taking place in Cairo from 4 to 8 November 2024 at the Egypt International Exhibitions Centre. The theme of this forum is “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities,” aiming to gather global forces to jointly explore and address the challenges brought by rapid urbanization and promote the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The 12th World Urban Forum officially opened in Cairo, Egypt. (Photographed by the Chinese Society for Urban Studies delegation)

On November 4th , the 12th World Urban Forum opened in Cairo, Egypt, with a five-day agenda. The theme of this forum is “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities,” emphasizing the critical role of every family and local governments and communities in promoting sustainable urbanization. The conference will host high-level dialogues on six topics, including housing issues, urban and climate crises, strengthening cooperation, local finance, human-centric priorities in the digital age, and rebuilding homes. These topics not only relate to the sustainable development of cities worldwide but also represent common challenges faced by various communities in different regions globally.

  Opening Ceremony of the 12th World Urban Forum (Photographed by the Chinese Society for Urban Studies delegation)

WUF12 officially kicks off in Cairo, Egypt. (© UN-Habitat) 

UN-Habitat Executive Director (second from right) and Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly (third from right) explore a booth at the Urban Expo. (© UN-Habitat/Dario Berrebi)

At 16:30 local time on November 4, the opening ceremony of the forum was held at the Egypt International Convention Center. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) Jan van Zanen, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Anáclaudia Rossbach, President of Yemen Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi, Chairman of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, President of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas, and President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi delivered speeches one after another.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivering a video message at the opening ceremony (Photographed by the Chinese Society for Urban Studies delegation)

In his video message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that any change begins at home and then impacts communities and cities. Ensuring that cities provide adequate and safe housing for everyone is crucial for advancing global sustainable development goals. He emphasized the positive role of the UN in promoting global integration and noted that cities are at the core of driving change.

He pointed out, "Real change starts at the grassroots level, grounded in the lives of communities and people." "Every action at the grassroots level is an important step towards building green, fair, and resilient cities." "Cities are powerful engines of socio-economic development and cradles of sustainable solutions." He hopes that participants will bring innovative ideas from the conference back to their respective regions and implement them in concrete actions.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anaclaudia Rossbach delivers opening remarks at the twelfth session of the World Urban Forum. (© UN-Habitat)

In her speech, Executive Director of UN-Habitat Anáclaudia Rossbach mentioned that representatives from 182 countries attended this World Urban Forum, along with four heads of state and 72 ministers.

She noted, "People and organizations around the world are deeply concerned about the future of the planet and recognize the key role of cities in shaping the future." As the largest platform supporting this transformative development, the World Urban Forum needs to drive efforts to overcome the global housing crisis and provide adequate housing for three billion people. She emphasized the need to address informal housing, slums, and homelessness, calling for global collaboration.

She particularly highlighted that this forum is the first World Urban Forum held after the UN General Assembly adopted the Pact for the Future. This significant UN document calls on countries to address global challenges such as climate change and also pay attention to the contradictions and inequalities brought by the development of artificial intelligence technology. Local governments play a pivotal role in addressing challenges posed by digitalization and technological progress, which aligns closely with the UN-Habitat's long-standing advocacy for human-centric smart cities. She pointed out that the World Urban Forum has the capacity to provide strategies for common issues faced by countries, including urban planning, urban infrastructure, and housing. She believes that technology can continuously enhance the adaptability and inclusiveness of our cities.

The World Urban Forum was established in 2001 to address the challenges of rapid urbanization and is held biennially. This is the first time in over two decades that it has returned to Africa. In her speech, Executive Director Rossbach said that this year's theme emphasizes the need to start building the future of humanity from where people live and work. She praised Egypt, especially Cairo, for its significant progress in the housing sector over the past decade, leading to the choice of Cairo as the venue for this forum.

Presidents Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi of Yemen, Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan of the Sovereignty Council of Sudan, Mahmoud Abbas of Palestine, and Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt expressed congratulations on the opening of the forum and gratitude to the Egyptian government in their respective speeches. They also conveyed their people's expectations for sustainable urban development and called on the UN and the international community to focus on infrastructure, housing, and reconstruction in hotspots such as Gaza, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon while addressing climate change and technological innovation.

During the opening ceremony, a thematic video produced jointly by UN-Habitat and the Egyptian government was screened. It showcased Egypt's achievements in implementing the "UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," particularly in urban planning and construction, echoing the conference's goal of improving the quality of urban development and enhancing people's well-being.

Experts from the Chinese Society for Urban Studies at the WUF12 opening ceremony (Photographed by the Chinese Society for Urban Studies delegation)

Edited by Jiangyu Chen with reference to https://unhabitat.org/news/04-nov-2024/world-urban-forum-in-cairo-opens-with-record-breaking-attendance-and-call-for