The World Urban Forum (WUF12), the UN’s leading conference on sustainable urban development, launched today in Cairo, Egypt, drawing an unprecedented 37,000 participants from 182 countries. This marks the forum’s return to Africa after more than 20 years, coinciding with the continent’s rapid urban expansion.

Under the theme “It all starts at home: Local actions for sustainable cities and communities,” the three-day event focuses on translating global sustainability goals into local solutions. The timing is crucial, with less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

UN Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the forum via video, emphasizing cities’ dual role in environmental challenges and solutions. He noted that urban areas generate 70% of greenhouse gas emissions, with municipal waste expected to increase by two-thirds within a generation.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach highlighted the global housing crisis affecting nearly 3 billion people, calling for urgent action on informal settlements and homelessness. The forum serves as a platform for building partnerships to address these challenges alongside climate change, conflicts, and poverty.

On the launch of the WUF, Manal Awad, Minister of Local Development of Egypt, “The World Urban Forum’s 12th session (WUF-12) serves as a valuable platform to highlight the rich cultural and architectural heritage of Cairo, as well as the significant advancements and developments that have taken place in the city over the last decade. Collaboration among community groups and partnerships with the private sector is essential for developing innovative and effective solutions to urban challenges, thereby fostering inclusive growth and resilience in urban areas.”

The event has attracted high-level participation, including the presidents of Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine. Additionally, 74 ministers, 42 deputy ministers, and 94 mayors are expected to attend, demonstrating strong governmental commitment to urban development.

The forum’s diverse representation is noteworthy, with 74% of participants from Africa, followed by delegates from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania. The attendance spans various sectors: 21% from academia, 16% from government, 13% from private sector, and 7% from civil society organizations. The event has achieved gender parity among its 407 speakers.

WUF12’s program features 37 main sessions and over 500 partner-led events, including six high-profile dialogues examining how the concept of “home” connects to urbanization challenges. A ministerial roundtable on multilevel governance for accelerating the New Urban Agenda and SDGs is scheduled for November 5.

At the close of the Forum, WUF12 will issue the Cairo Call to Action, a document outlining commitments and pathways for sustainable urbanization. Outcome documents will be crafted with guidance from the newly established WUF Advisory Group composed of global stakeholders and local leaders. These will aim to reinforce WUF’s lasting impact on cities worldwide.

About the WUF : Established in 2001 by the United Nations, the World Urban Forum is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization, designed to examine the impacts of rapid urbanization in cities, communities, economies, and climate change. Since its inception, WUF has been hosted in cities across the world, with the first session held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2002.

About UN-Habitat: UN-Habitat is the United Nations entity responsible for sustainable urbanization. It has programmes in over 90 countries supporting policymakers and communities to create socially and environmentally sustainable cities and towns. UN-Habitat promotes transformative change in cities through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance, and collaborative action.