Secretary-general: City builders are communities providing first response to climate crisis

It became clear during the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku that communities are the true builders of cities and the first responders to the climate crisis, stated Lajana Manandhar, Secretary General of the Asian Coalition for Housing Rights, at the closing ceremony of the event, Report informs.

"As civil society, local movements, and representatives of informal settlements, we wish to express our deep gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan and the people of Azerbaijan for your love, care, and very warm hospitality, as well as for the amazing cultural program just presented," she said.

According to her, more than 1 billion people worldwide live in informal settlements, and approximately 3 billion people lack adequate shelter. "However, during this week"s assembly of local communities and civil society, in the roundtable discussions, it became clear that communities are the true builders of our cities. Communities are the first responders to the climate crisis. When floods rise, displacement threatens, and housing prices spike, it is the local communities, especially women and youth, who face these challenges and respond to them.

We have identified during this forum that housing is a fundamental human right. Housing is a public good. Yet, the right on paper has no meaning for a family facing displacement or being forced from their home. Genuine urban renewal must be based on social justice. If urban renewal forces the people who give the community its spirit to leave, it cannot be considered true development," she added.