Nature-based solutions key to cities: UN official

Anaclaudia Rossbach, executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, or UN-Habitat, says cities must place housing, resilient infrastructure and nature-based solutions at the center of urban planning to withstand growing climate threats such as floods, heat waves and droughts.

In an interview with China Daily on the sidelines of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, or WUF13, being held in Baku, Azerbaijan, Rossbach said rapid and often unplanned urbanization is concentrating people and infrastructure in highly climate-vulnerable areas, exposing millions of residents, especially low-income communities, to escalating climate risks.

She said more than 1 billion people live in informal settlements, often located in flood-prone or environmentally fragile areas globally, while nearly 3 billion people face some form of housing inadequacy.

"Without stronger climate action, inequality and housing insecurity will only deepen," Rossbach said.

She stressed that urban planning must become more "housing-first and resilience-driven", aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

"This means investing in affordable, climate-smart housing with resilient building standards, passive cooling, water-resistant materials and secure tenure, while upgrading informal settlements," Rossbach said.

She said cities should address climate risks in informal settlements through community-centered upgrading rather than forced displacement.

Rossbach said that participatory risk mapping can help identify areas where relocation may be unavoidable, emphasizing that any resettlement must follow due process to protect livelihoods.

"When cities align housing, land management, infrastructure and social protection policies, they can reduce climate risks while keeping communities connected to jobs, schools and services," Rossbach said.

Looking ahead, Rossbach said a truly climate-smart city will balance lower emissions, stronger climate resilience and improved access to services, while ensuring better housing conditions for all residents.

The forum running through Friday, and themed "Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities", is the largest to date, attracting more than 40,000 participants from more than 180 countries.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn