From Global Commitments to Local Action Cities Delivering Affordable and Climate-Resilient Housing

The session will build on recent UN-Habitat resolutions reaffirming adequate and affordable housing as a global priority and a core pillar of sustainable urban development. These resolutions emphasise the central role of housing in advancing the New Urban Agenda and achieving safe, inclusive and resilient cities. It will also connect city-level action to the European policy context, including the European Plan for Affordable Housing, which seeks to increase the supply of affordable, quality and sustainable housing through coordinated public policies, investment mechanisms and regulatory frameworks. Together, these global and European policy frameworks provide a strategic reference for cities seeking to translate international commitments into concrete, locally grounded housing solutions. Building on lessons from WUF12 and concrete city level experience, the session will highlight how local governments, housing providers and international networks and ministries are translating global commitments into operational solutions by building on what already exists. Rather than relying solely on new housing production, it will focus on integrated approaches that combine affordability, climate resilient construction, low carbon urban planning, secure tenure and inclusive governance, drawing on urban regeneration and large scale housing renovation in European cities, as well as the upgrading and integration of informal settlements in cities of the Global South. Through a practice oriented dialogue, speakers from ministries, cities, UN Habitat, development bank and African housing organisation will share policies, tools and partnerships that are already delivering results on the ground. Particular attention will be given to: • scaling affordable housing within climate constrained urban environments, including through renovation, densification and adaptive reuse of existing housing stock; • aligning housing policies with mitigation and adaptation strategies; • strengthening multi level governance and financing mechanisms; • ensuring housing solutions address the needs of vulnerable and low income households. The session will contribute directly to WUF13 official dialogues, offering actionable recommendations and reinforcing the role of cities as key implementers of the global housing agenda.