00:00This whole urbanization patterns that we observed in the past, they're just not
00:07sustainable in the future. We're consuming critical land that could be
00:12dedicated for, you know, agriculture. So we have to look at how cities are growing.
00:17We have to plan and design smart strategies such as densification.
00:30The Azerbaijan National Urban Forum brought together around 400 participants from 64 countries,
00:37among them representatives from public, private and academic institutions, as well as civil society.
00:44The main topic of discussion was how to create climate resilient and healthy cities
00:49through regional partnerships and innovative solutions.
00:53We started and continue our cooperation with international partners,
00:57especially planning agencies and that helps us to follow global trends, global standards
01:08and also it helps because each of international companies working in Azerbaijan
01:15always cooperate with at least one, in most of the cases with few Azerbaijani architects.
01:22So national, professional capacity is growing.
01:27As urban areas around the world face growing climate challenges and public health concerns,
01:33this forum has served as a crucial platform to explore how innovation and cooperation
01:39can help us build cities that are more resilient, more livable and more equitable for all.
01:45It was after the sustainable development goals that it met those goals.
01:52So sustainability means as well innovative education and when it comes to education,
01:58we wanted children to have the best circumstances they could have to have a good education.
02:04Azerbaijan is actively aligning its urbanization policy with international standards.
02:10Large-scale restoration and construction efforts are underway in the Karabakh and East Zangazur economic regions,
02:18former conflict areas applying smart city and smart village concepts.
02:23There are the easy ways of preserving heritage by, you know, just keeping it as it is,
02:29securing it, making it a monument, a museum for people to watch.
02:33But ideally, we would reconstruct the building, we would put it back to use, we would adapt it.
02:40Every case is very specific, especially in the sensitive areas.
02:43For Azerbaijan, the National Urban Forum is both a starting point and a road to a larger journey,
02:50the 13th World Urban Forum.
02:52This will focus on some of the most pressing urban challenges of our time,
02:57from housing affordability and urban resilience to social inclusion.
03:02There are more than 3 billion people globally without access to adequate housing.
03:08Speaking about healthy cities, we are definitely considering the issue of housing.
03:14And I'm sure we will continue, we will be able to continue this discussion on the World Urban Forum.
03:20Urban Forum is about future, young people also about future.
03:23And that's why probably one of the main topics in the World Urban Forum,
03:29which will be in Azerbaijan next year, is about young generation and young people.
03:36More than half of the world's population already live in cities,
03:40and the UN predicts this number will reach 68% by 2050.
03:45Urbanization dynamics is very intense, especially in the regions like Africa and Southeast Asia.
03:54So this growth from 50% to almost 70% urban will have its heaviest impact in these two regions.
04:04This means almost 2 billion people coming to cities in the next two decades or so.
04:12The UN Habitat recommends several key actions to improve urban life,
04:16such as integrated urban planning, access to basic services and adequate housing,
04:22and stronger urban resilience and climate action.
04:25We created visions, but those visions need to be realized.
04:29And here the collaboration from international with us to the locals is very important.
04:37Master plans and innovative projects are shaping a more sustainable and inclusive urban future across the region.
04:43The UN and Azerbaijan are working closely in a highly collaborative and co-creational way.
04:49Together they are committed to making this event more impactful, more effective and truly different.
04:55Definitely different.
04:56And that is where the functioning can be potentially moving.
04:57Absolutely different.
04:58More than who are the ones having seen nearbyómo.
04:59Mostly different.
05:00As held by a wall at en direct limit,
05:01strongly different,
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