Housing, Climate and Migration: What WUF13 Was Really About

The hosting of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku has become not only a major international urban development event for Azerbaijan, but also an attempt by the country to establish itself as a new diplomatic platform for discussing the global challenges of the 21st century — from housing shortages and climate resilience to post-conflict reconstruction.

On May 17, the flag of the World Urban Forum will be raised at the Olympic Stadium in Baku, officially marking the opening of WUF13 — one of the world’s largest international gatherings dedicated to the future of cities, urbanization and human life in the 21st century.

On May 14, the Baku Court of Appeal reviewed the appeal complaint filed by public activist Ahmad Mammadli.

Azerbaijan’s economic growth nearly stalled in the first four months of 2026 as declining activity in the oil and gas sector continued to weigh on the economy despite moderate growth in non-oil industries and large-scale government infrastructure spending.