October 31, 11:36CGTN

Global Housing Forum Opens in China with Focus on Affordable Housing

The global housing problem is primarily evident in cities, where nearly half of humanity resides. According to the UN-Habitat World Cities Report 2026, up to 3.4 billion people lack access to safe, reliable, and adequate housing. More than a billion of these live in conditions of 'insecure tenure' in informal settlements and slums, characterized by overcrowding, environmental risks, and limited access to basic services.

These conditions negatively affect human potential, worsen public health, impede access to public services, and condemn people to cycles of economic vulnerability. Urban poor also suffer from environmental threats. As cities now house approximately 3.7 billion people under pressure related to housing affordability, aging infrastructure, climate risks, and social inequality, the housing issue has transformed from a local problem into a global imperative.

As part of the Global Celebration of World Cities Day 2026, dedicated to highlighting this crisis, the event kicked off in Fuzhou, Fujian Province in eastern China, under the slogan 'Urban Renewal: Adequate Housing for All.' This draws global attention to the urgent need for safe and affordable housing.

China's Response

China is actively addressing this issue through large-scale urban reconstruction. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, by the end of 2025, China's urbanization rate reached 67.89%, with over 950 million people living in cities. The focus has shifted from simple construction to improving the quality of development.

During the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development reported that over 240,000 old residential complexes were renovated, improving the lives of 110 million people. These works included the installation of 129,000 new elevators, the creation of 3.4 million parking spaces, and the establishment of 64,000 public facilities such as elderly care centers and kindergartens.

Underground utilities have also been modernized: approximately 840,000 kilometers of water, gas, and heat pipelines were updated or replaced—a distance equivalent to about 21 Earth circumferences. Over 18,000 'pocket parks' and 25,000 kilometers of urban green paths have appeared on the surface. Furthermore, 56,000 residential complexes have become more convenient and accessible for the elderly, and over 28 million square meters of recreational and sports areas have been added.

As the host city of the current event, Fuzhou embodies this philosophy in practice. This city, with a history exceeding 2,200 years, is known for its picturesque landscape where mountains, rivers, and residential areas coexist harmoniously. In 2026, Fuzhou's forest cover reached 55%, and over 1,800 kilometers of green paths connect more than 1,500 parks.

Fuzhou has also intensified efforts to improve housing conditions: 1,264 old residential complexes were renovated, 116 redevelopment projects in old districts were launched, and 103,000 units of affordable housing were built. The city is also working to enhance climate resilience by constructing or renovating 1,835 kilometers of water, sewage, and gas pipelines, and installing 6,756 smart sensors in its utility network, bridges, and tunnels.

A Platform for Global Urban Dialogue

In 2022, China and UN-Habitat jointly established the Global Award for Sustainable Cities (Shanghai Award), and Fuzhou received this award in 2023. Rafael Tutz, Director of the UN-Habitat Global Solutions Department, noted that China has accumulated extensive experience in urban renewal, community improvement, and enhancing the quality of urban life, adding that Fuzhou provides an important platform for global dialogue this year.

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archdaily.com.brOctober 30, 09:30

World Cities Day 2026 focuses on urban regeneration and ensuring adequate housing for all

World Cities Day 2026 will be held on October 31st, with the central theme being urban regeneration, specifically focused on ensuring appropriate housing for the entire population. This year's global celebration will take place in Fuzhou, China, and aims to demonstrate how city revitalization can increase access to decent housing through the improvement of existing neighborhoods, infrastructure, and public spaces.

According to data presented by the United Nations, there are approximately 3.4 billion individuals globally without access to adequate housing, tenure security, basic services, or satisfactory living conditions. This scenario underscores the urgency of adopting methods that integrate the housing issue with broader aspects of urban life, such as environmental resilience, connectivity, and access to vital services.

Cities are formed by the interaction between residents, their residences, and shared spaces. Housing projects affect the density and profile of neighborhoods, while transport networks define the reach to jobs and services. Furthermore, public spaces provide venues for leisure and social interaction. These urban systems face increasing environmental pressures, including intense heatwaves, floods, storms, and other adverse climate events. With the continuous growth of cities, the availability of adequate housing is intrinsically linked to the capacity of urban settlements to adapt to these challenges while sustaining resident communities.

For this edition of World Cities Day, various interconnected elements of urban life were analyzed from four main perspectives: housing, public space, mobility, and neighborhood habitability, gathering reports that explore the challenges and opportunities characterizing contemporary cities.

Housing, Displacement, and Climate Change Resilience

Adequate housing transcends the mere existence of a roof; its location, construction method, financial viability, access to services, and resistance to environmental risks are factors that determine the security it offers. Given the rising impact of floods, storms, and extreme heat in urban settlements, housing strategies must consider how both buildings and communities can adjust to these new realities. For those forced to move due to environmental pressures, conflicts, or economic instability, the search for a new home also implies regaining access to income sources, services, and social support networks. These issues demand solutions that unite housing design with land use, infrastructure, and active community participation.

Urban Landscapes as Support Structures: Public Space, Water, and Climate Adaptation

Parks, waterfronts, gardens, and open areas are often perceived merely as aesthetic elements that enhance the visual appeal and recreational value of cities. However, their function is much broader, directly influencing the functioning of urban ecosystems. These landscapes aid in absorbing rainwater, reducing surface temperatures, supporting biodiversity, and providing relief during periods of extreme heat. In flood-prone regions, incorporating water management into public space and landscape planning helps alleviate the burden on conventional drainage systems. These capabilities become even more critical as cities expand and natural systems undergo changes due to urban development.

Urban Displacement: Mobility, Transport, and Connection

The way citizens move within the city directly impacts their access to housing, job opportunities, education, health, and public areas. Although transport networks connect neighborhoods, road and infrastructure planning can also create barriers, especially for those who walk, cycle, or use public transport. In numerous cities, an excessive focus on the automobile has resulted in fragmented urban environments, dangerous streets, and disparities in access to essential services. Reforming mobility requires more than simply implementing new transport technologies or expanding the road network; it necessitates considering the integration between different modes of locomotion, ensuring that infrastructure meets the needs of people with diverse requirements, and improving connections between urban and rural areas.

What Defines a Habitable Neighborhood? Health, Green Areas, and Community

While metropolitan guidelines establish general conditions for urban development, the experience of living in a city is often determined at the neighborhood scale. Access to hospitals, parks, schools, local services, and safe streets profoundly influences how residents experience their surroundings and participate in urban life. Such qualities are not distributed uniformly, and general metrics or international classifications can mask the differences between neighborhoods and the real needs of their inhabitants. Therefore, understanding the concept of habitability requires going beyond analyzing economic performance or the quantity of green areas, focusing instead on how people actually use their spaces, interact with each other, and participate in decisions affecting their communities.