Housing our Future: Architecture towards a Greener, Better, Safer and Affordable Habitat
On the 21st of September, the UIA, UN-HABITAT and the Brazilian MFA organised a high-level roundtable, hosted as a Summit of the Future Action Days Side Event., in the Center for Architecture in New York. Architecture and urban planning professionals, together with representatives from relevant ministries, discussed proposals to overcome the global housing crisis, mitigate climate change and build resilience in human habitats. Speakers included representatives from UIA (Regina Gonthier and Rui Leão), UN Habitat (Raf Tuts), MRE/Brazil (Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago), MTE/France (Yves-Laurent Sapoval), Architects’ Council of Europe – ACE (Ruth Schagemann) and the American Institute of Architects (Graziela Carrillo).
Cities and Territories, adequate housing, the role of architects and of architecture in the transformation towards a sustainable habitat were some of the key issues discussed, and collaboration in preparation for COP 30 as been identified as crucial, as it will be an opportunity to advance on agendas often overlooked, with a special focus, on Architecture, Housing, and Territory.
The panel also identified key recommended actions, such as:
- increased investment in SDG11 as Architecture for a Greener, Better, Safer Habitat and Sustainable Urbanisation is an overarching goal for our sustainable development;
- prioritise adequate housing within the global agenda;
- encourage cross-sector collaboration and foster knowledge exchange across regions, drawing on successful examples and integrating them into global strategies;
- implementation of binding frameworks and legislation, at national and regional levels, to drive the transformation of the built environment;
- advancing participatory urban planning;
- support the development of passive, climate-responsive architecture, focusing on cost-effective and scalable solutions to urban and housing challenges; and
- encourage new financial models for housing.
The collective goal of these recommendations is to ensure that no one is left behind while creating greener, safer, better and more affordable habitats for all.