Step into the ideas shaping the future of our cities. At the World Urban Forum, the Urban Expo will bring together countries, cities, UN entities, businesses, academia and civil society to showcase innovative solutions for sustainable, resilient and inclusive housing and urban living. From country

Moroccan architecture shows how cooling doesn’t need AC. Thick walls, courtyards, fountains, wind catchers and evaporative cooling create comfort naturally. A masterclass in passive design — and a reminder that sustainability often comes from tradition.

A house is not merely a box. For 1.1B people in slums, adequacy is a right, not a luxury. It means safe water, space, durability, secure tenure, and costs under 30% of income. Join us at #WUF13 to turn these pillars into reality for everyone: https://loom.ly/37yEpiI

We have spent the last half-century building cities that are designed to keep us apart. Sustainable proximity builds compact, mixed-use neighborhoods where services are 5-15min walk away. This model cuts emissions and boosts equity. Join us at the next World Urban Forum to scale these solutions 📲

"We need to talk about housing as a human right and not as a commodity." Hear from Yolander Hendler, Secretary-General of Habitat International Coalition, on why housing, migration, and the future of our cities are inseparable. Join us at #WUF13 👉: https://loom.ly/Kb6rUFk

Care blocks in Bogotá offer childcare, eldercare, laundry & training — funded through city budgets, not charity. With unpaid care worth 20% of GDP (80% done by women), the real question is: why didn’t cities do this sooner? Explore urban solutions at the next World Urban Forum: wuf.unhabitat.org

🌍 India’s urban innovations are providing valuable lessons for cities worldwide. UN‑Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach spoke to Hindustan Times during her visit to India this week, highlighting the pressing challenges facing cities globally. Read more: https://loom.ly/BWXaY1g

Build sustainable cities at 4 scales: Building, Street, Public Space, & Neighborhood. From 5-min walkability in Saudi Arabia to solar-lit streets in Senegal, local action has global impact. Join us at the next World Urban Forum (#WUF13) to share your urban solutions!

Build compact, connected neighborhoods using our 5 principles. Prioritize walkability, mixed-use zoning, and high density to cut sprawl. Ensure 20-50% affordable housing for inclusive, vibrant cities. Let’s move from spatially fragmented blocks to compact, connected, and inclusive communities.

Inclusion isn’t a "bonus". When we build for the most vulnerable first, we build a city that works for everyone. Today 1 in 8 of us (1.1bn) live in informal settlements. By 2030, it could be 2 billion. We need: local data mapping, nature-based buffers, co-governance, tenure security/

UN-Habitat will be present at the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development #APFSD. We’re co-hosting 6 specialized side events focusing on: 🌊Sinking Cities 🏘️Water-Housing Nexus 🚴Transport Oriented Development 🔗 More on our engagement: https://loom.ly/q3P1e7s#APFSD

Wishing you a blessed Ramadan! 🌙✨ As we enter this holy month, let's celebrate the spirit of community. May this time of reflection and connection inspire us to build better lives.

Stop treating trees as decor. They’re "biological machines." 🌳 Data shows: - 1 tree = cooling power of 10 AC units - Trees lower surface temps by up to 12°C - Urban forests help slash energy bills & urban heat island effect Time to move trees from the "Landscaping" budget to "Infrastructure"?

Boring cities = vital infrastructure 🏗️ Safe streets, functioning drains, clean water - these "boring" investments are what make cities fair & resilient. If we want inclusive climate action, we need to fund and maintain the infrastructure that quietly holds everything together.

🌆 Rio de Janeiro shows how urban climate action meets reality: favela upgrading, community-led resilience, and nature-based solutions — alongside tough challenges of inequality, risk, and governance. Progress, not perfection.

This Valentine’s Day, show your city some love 💚 1. Plant a tree 2. Volunteer in your community 3. Join a local meeting 4. Spend time in your parks 5. Support your neighbours Stronger communities recover faster, stay healthier, and are more resilient. Which is your urban love language? 🏙️

Sand scarcity isn’t about running out — it’s about how cities build. Urban growth drives river and coastal mining, raising flood and erosion risks. Solutions exist: manufactured sand, recycled concrete, smarter design and ecosystem protection. The real cost of sand is increasingly visible.

📣 Happening today: Reminder for media in the Arab States region Join us for the online regional media briefing on #WUF13 — the UN's largest global conference on sustainable urbanization, taking place in Baku in May 2026. 🔗 Tune in live: https://loom.ly/91rgWLc

Cities were built on grey infrastructure for a stable climate—but that climate is gone. Concrete alone can’t handle today’s heat and floods. Green infrastructure adds cooling, absorption, and flexibility. Image: @worldresources.bsky.social & World Bank Group

Urban heat islands occur when dense, dark, low-green cities trap heat. The most effective solutions combine - trees and water, - cool and reflective materials, - green buildings, - climate-smart design, - cleaner transport, - and targeted protection for vulnerable communities.

China’s Tulou show us this: climate resilience doesn’t need high-tech solutions. Built with earth, shared by communities, and standing for centuries - Tulou prove that low-carbon design and social cohesion are foundations of resilient cities.

With rising heat, soaring bills, and a failing grid, households in Islamabad are taking power into their own hands. Across the city, solar is slashing costs, boosting resilience, and proving the power of citizen-led climate action. Source: https://loom.ly/4fj6Z2c

We are excited to roll out the revamped e-learning course: Functional Urban-Rural Linkages for Sustainable Urbanization! 🚀 Designed for territorial development - this course equips participants with the knowledge and tools to drive meaningful change. https://loom.ly/p8pMevM

Re-permeabilising urban ground (de-sealing surfaces) reduces flooding, cools cities, recharges groundwater, supports biodiversity, and improves livability. It’s a low-cost climate adaptation strategy with strong social, health, and resilience co-benefits.

For 1,700+ years, Shibam’s mudbrick towers have stood tall in Yemen’s Wadi Hadramaut. With natural cooling, zero-waste materials, and a design that fostered community, this “Manhattan of the Desert” shows how ancient cities mastered sustainable living.

​How can cities use indicators to turn data into action? ​Join the 4th Regional Webinar of the New Urban Agenda Learning Series: “Tracking Progress with Purpose: NUA Indicators in Practice” ​🔗 EN: https://loom.ly/jKJ3c1s 🔗 FR: https://loom.ly/id9RfRM

UN-Habitat will host an online regional media briefing for journalists and correspondents from the Arab States, spotlighting the thirteenth session of the World Urban Forum (#WUF13) — the world’s premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. 🔗 Register here: https://loom.ly/i2BGZgE

⏰ Deadline extended! Following strong interest from partners worldwide, the deadline to apply to host a partner-led event at #WUF13 has been extended. 📅 New deadline: 3 February 2026 (23:59 UTC+04:00) 👉 Finalize your proposal and submit now: wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13

Bogotá is treating care like infrastructure. Care blocks offer childcare, eldercare, laundry & training — funded through city budgets, not charity. With unpaid care worth 20% of GDP (80% done by women), the real question is: why didn’t cities do this sooner?

Before air-conditioning, the desert city of Yazd stayed cool using wind catchers—12th-century, emissions-free “AC” powered by physics, not electricity. As cities heat up, ancient design may offer our smartest cooling lessons.

The next decade of advancing the #SDGs begins now! UN-Habitat will engage with partners at the ECOSOC Partnership Forum, a key platform for strengthening partnerships and advancing action for the SDGs. More on our engagement: https://loom.ly/leG_AY8#SDGs #Partnership4SDGs #GlobalGoals

With smart planning, clean energy, green spaces, and inclusive design, cities can cut emissions and build resilience. Host your own partner-led event at #WUF13 to showcase your unique idea or solution - register here https://loom.ly/BdFti0c

In Syria, the destruction from 13 years of war has become part of the landscape. There is barely a town or city undamaged. @nytimes.com article talks about the scale of damage and recovery prospects, including UN-Habitat's work. ▶️ link: https://loom.ly/THSVkao

Before air conditioning, architecture worked with physics. Moroccan mashrabiyas (wooden lattice screens), fountains and porous ceramics used evaporative cooling to lower temperatures naturally. A reminder that innovation isn’t always new, just forgotten.

🌍 Got an urban idea worth sharing with the world? Partner-led event applications for WUF13 are open! Join thousands of city leaders in Baku, 17–22 May 2026, to exchange ideas and drive sustainable urban development. ⏳ Apply by Jan 29th https://loom.ly/BdFti0c

In eastern Afghanistan, traditional stone-and-timber homes are climate-smart but vulnerable to earthquakes. By retrofitting — not replacing — these vernacular houses, communities cut carbon, protect livelihoods and build safer, more resilient homes.

🌳 The city of Chengdu had a bold mission. By turning nearly 20,000 km into connected green trails and natural spaces, Chengdu brought nature into the heart of the city for its 20 million residents. ✨ Feeling inspired? Apply to host a partner-led event at #WUF13. 🔗 https://loom.ly/BdFti0c

Media accreditation is now open for #WUF13! The forum will feature high-level dialogues and global leaders shaping the future of cities. Apply today: https://unhabitat.org/news/15-jan-2026/media-registration-opens-for-wuf13-in-baku-amid-growing-global-housing-crisis

At #WUF13, Voices from Cities events put local experience at the centre of the global conversation. These sessions create space to share real challenges, practical solutions and lessons learnt. 🗓️ Apply by 29 January 2026 👉 wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13 #RoadtoBaku #HousingTheWorld

With cities already home to 45% of the global population, building cities that are resilient, connected, and equitable must remain at the forefront 🌍 🏙️ Have a people-first urban solution to share? Bring your ideas to #WUF13 by hosting a partner-led event. 👉 https://loom.ly/BdFti0c

UN-Habitat mourns the passing of Maricel M. Genzola, Executive Director of the Foundation for the Development of the Urban Poor & Chair of PHILSSA—a dedicated champion for housing and sustainable urbanization. We extend our deepest sympathies and prayers to her family, loved ones and colleagues.

Knowledge drives better cities. At #WUF13, Urban Library events are a space to launch and discuss the latest research, reports and publications shaping housing and sustainable urban development. 🗓️ Apply by 29 January 2026 👉 wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13 #HousingTheWorld #RoadtoBaku

Lights, camera, urban action! 🎬 At #WUF13, Urban Cinema brings housing and urban stories to life through short films that explore the realities, challenges and possibilities of our cities. 🗓️ Apply by 29 January 2026 👉 wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13 #HousingTheWorld #RoadtoBaku

🚦 When streets put people first, they become places that are safer, healthier, and more welcoming for everyone. Help shape the future of urban mobility and people-first cities by hosting a partner-led event at #WUF13. 👉 https://wuf.unhabitat.org/news/wuf13-opens-applications-partner-led-events

SDGs in Action events at #WUF13 showcase how urban solutions are driving progress across the #GlobalGoals, turning collaboration into impact that can be shared and scaled worldwide. 🗓️ Deadline: 27 January 2026 👉 wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13 #HousingTheWorld #RoadtoBaku

We need homes before we can plan the future. Maria Fernanda Espinosa @mfespinosaEC, President of the 73rd UN General Assembly, reminds us why housing is a fundamental human right, and why action cannot wait. 👉 Register for #WUF13: https://loom.ly/Kb6rUFk#WUF13 #HousingForAll #RoadToBaku

When the UN works together, cities move forward. At #WUF13, One UN events spotlight how UN agencies, funds and programmes join forces to turn global commitments into real impact. 🗓️ Apply by 27 January 2026 👉 wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13 #HousingTheWorld #RoadtoBaku

The freshwater crisis hits cities through scarcity, floods, and health risks - worsened by climate change and overuse. Cities can respond by cutting leaks, reusing water, protecting ecosystems, and ensuring fair access to safe water for all. Video by @unep.org

Great cities are built through partnerships. 🤝 If your work thrives on partnerships and shared momentum, Networking Events is where conversations begin. 🗓️ Apply to host a partner-led event at #WUF13 by 27 January 2026 👉 https://loom.ly/PXV8Zy4#WUF13 #RoadtoBaku #HousingTheWorld

Cities don’t change by policy alone — they change when people have the skills to act. 🎓 WUF Academy events put learning at the centre of urban transformation through hands-on, practical trainings at #WUF13. 🗓️ Apply by 27 January 2026 👉 wuf.unhabitat.org/wuf13