Claudio Barbaro calls for focus on housing crisis

Countries should currently pay special attention to the housing crisis, Undersecretary of State to the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security of Italy, Claudio Barbaro, said at the ministerial roundtable within the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, the main challenges faced by countries - from climate change to the housing crisis, from social inequalities to the sustainable management of resources - are particularly acutely felt at the local level: "Therefore, it is essential to recognize local authorities as co-creators of development and to empower them to implement integrated approaches, nature-based solutions, circular economy models, and a renewed balance between urban and rural areas. Today, special attention must be paid to the housing crisis, which directly impacts social solidarity, justice, and human dignity."

He added that for Italy, the next priority in this area is to ensure more systematic involvement of local authorities in decision-making processes, including at the international level: "Investing in the potential of cities and regions in terms of governance, experience, data, and resources is a necessary condition for change. In this context, the integration processes of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs) are a strategic tool for strengthening alignment between local, national, and global levels and for guiding post-2030 policies."

The Italian official emphasized that countries should strengthen partnerships aimed at reinforcing multilevel governance, promote the localization of the SDGs, and ensure policy coherence for sustainable development: "In this regard, Italy is ready to fulfill its commitments."