French representative: Housing has become a global priority

The housing issue has become a global priority both economically and socially, Yves-Laurent Sapoval, Ministerial Delegate for Sustainable Urban Development at France's Ministry of Ecological Transition, Biodiversity, Forestry, Sea and Fisheries, said at the event titled "In Search of the Best Solutions for Sustainable Housing and Resilient Cities: Voices of Cities" held within the framework of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, according to Report.

According to him, efforts have been made for years to bring the housing issue to the center of the international agenda, and significant progress is already being felt in this direction: "The main part of global wealth consists of real estate. 60-70% of it falls to the share of housing. Housing is the fundamental value that people possess. Preserving the existing housing stock and adapting it to climate change is one of the main priorities. The real estate and housing sector is seriously exposed to climate change. Many people will have to change or adapt their homes. This is related not only to climate but also to demographic issues such as population aging."

He noted that it is important to continue the construction of new housing, especially social housing: "This is an important issue not only for workers to find places to live but also in terms of housing provision for students. New housing projects should not exacerbate existing problems. When building new homes, we should not worsen the current situation further. For this, there is a great need for innovations."