On the Road to COP31: “Urban resilience is one of the most strategic investments we can make,” says UN Türkiye Resident Coordinator at World Urban Forum in Baku

The United Nations Türkiye Resident Coordinator, Babatunde Ahonsi at the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Azerbaijan, highlighted the importance of climate-resilient urban development, inclusive recovery and stronger multilateral cooperation ahead of COP31, which Türkiye will host in Antalya in 2026.

Speaking across multiple sessions bringing together government representatives, city leaders, UN agencies, development partners and climate experts, Ahonsi emphasized that cities are at the centre of both the climate crisis and its solutions, and underlined the importance of translating global climate and development commitments into local action.

Opening a panel discussion on “Strengthening Urban Earthquake Preparedness: ONE UN Solutions for Safer and More Resilient Cities,” Ahonsi reflected on the lessons learned from the devastating February 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye. He stressed that recovery efforts should not focus solely on reconstruction, but on building more resilient, inclusive and sustainable urban systems.

“Türkiye’s experience demonstrates that urban resilience is not a cost. It is one of the most strategic and cost-effective investments we can make for sustainable development,” Ahonsi said.

Highlighting the United Nations’ support to Türkiye’s recovery efforts, Ahonsi noted the importance of integrated approaches bringing together government institutions, municipalities, civil society, academia, the private sector and affected communities. He emphasized that resilient recovery must be people-centred and guided by the principle of Leaving No One Behind, particularly for vulnerable groups disproportionately affected by disasters.

The Resident Coordinator also moderated a high-level discussion on “NDCs 3.0: Urban Law and Multi-level Governance to Enable Climate Commitments,” focusing on how cities can help implement national climate goals through stronger legal and governance frameworks. The panel brought together international and national leaders, including representatives from Mexico, Pakistan, and UN-Habitat.

The discussion explored how national climate ambitions can be translated into practical urban action through stronger coordination between national and local governments, climate-responsive urban planning and investment in sustainable urbanization.

At another session on “The Climate-Housing Nexus,” the Resident Coordinator served as the technical moderator for a panel on “Building the Cities of the Future Today,” which examined pathways for creating low-carbon, climate-resilient and inclusive cities. Discussions focused on nature-based solutions, sustainable housing systems, climate-responsive urban policies and the integration of resilience into urban development planning.

During a UNEP and UN-Habitat roundtable on financing climate-resilient and inclusive housing, Ahonsi also highlighted the importance of stronger coordination across the United Nations system ahead of COP31 and other key global climate milestones. He noted that the UN Türkiye is working closely with the UN system, the COP31 Presidency and national and international partners to support an ambitious and action-oriented COP31 process.

Ahonsi emphasized that climate action, urban transformation and development financing must be approached together through integrated partnerships and whole-of-society approaches.

The World Urban Forum, convened by UN-Habitat, is the world’s largest global gathering on sustainable urbanization and brings together governments, local authorities, civil society, the private sector and international organizations to discuss the future of cities and sustainable urban development.