The year 2026 is not only a year of reporting, but also a year of redefining direction, Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), Anacláudia Rossbach, said during the ministers’ meeting held within the framework of WUF13, APA reports.
“I am honored to participate at a time when we are marking a critical moment. Ten years ago, member states adopted the New Urban Agenda at the United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development held in Quito. Ten years from now, the 20-year implementation period of the agenda will come to an end.
This means that 2026 is not only a reporting year, but also a year of redefining direction. It is a year to ask what has worked, what has not progressed quickly enough, and what should be done differently.
The New Urban Agenda remains the most important global framework for housing and sustainable urbanization. This document reminds us that cities and human settlements are not only places where problems collide, but also spaces where solutions can be implemented on a large scale.
Over recent decades, we have witnessed real progress. National urban policies are now recognized as key tools for coordinated urban development.
Around 160 countries have adopted or are preparing urban policy frameworks, or have integrated them into national development strategies. More than two-thirds of countries have adopted national housing policies, with affordability receiving the greatest attention.
Around 300 cities and subnational governments have published local reports, helping align local actions with national priorities and global commitments.
Local priorities are also increasingly reflected in climate policies. The share of nationally determined contribution documents incorporating urban contexts increased from 49 percent in 2021 to 80 percent in 2025. These are important achievements, but they are not enough.
The Secretary-General’s progress report on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda shows that implementation remains uneven and insufficient in many areas.
Too often, commitments have not translated into sustained investments, local-level results, and measurable improvements in people’s lives. The housing issue clearly demonstrates this.”
