So here we are, gathered again, 23 years after the first World Urban Forum. Another grand event, another round of speeches, handshakes, and declarations. But let’s be honest—has the world’s urban landscape improved since 2001? Or are we simply building more skyscrapers while the real foundations crumble beneath us?
The question posed at the forum—Is the world better or worse?—hangs uncomfortably in the air. If we’re still asking, isn’t the answer obvious? Cities continue to sprawl, inequality widens, and the environment deteriorates. For all the talk of inclusive cities and green spaces, it’s hard to shake the feeling that we’re merely tinkering at the edges of a crisis.
Bold Ideas or Familiar Rhetoric?
Malaysia’s Housing Minister Nga Kor Ming presented a passionate case, calling for unity, action, and—yes—more acronyms. TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. It’s a lovely sentiment, but does the world’s urban crisis really need more platitudes? The truth is, we’ve had enough slogans; what we’re lacking is sustained, measurable action.
The minister spoke of upcoming reforms—a new Urban Renewal Act to breathe life into aging cities, 1,000 parks to be built in the next decade, and a crusade against dirty toilets. Laudable goals, no doubt. But urban challenges are not new, nor are the solutions. What’s missing is urgency. If we know what must be done, why hasn’t it already happened? Why does progress crawl while the crises gallopp.
The minister referenced Charles Dickens and A Tale of Two Cities—an apt metaphor for the modern urban landscape. In too many cities, the wealthy reside in glass towers while the marginalized are left in decaying neighborhoods. Malaysia’s promise of affordable housing and inclusive planning is a step in the right direction, but this imbalance is a global issue. The real question is whether governments have the courage to prioritize the poor over the powerful.
A Thousand Parks and a Thousand Questions
Building 1,000 parks sounds wonderful, but what will they truly achieve? Parks won’t solve housing shortages or systemic inequality. They’re nice to have, not need-to-have, in the face of larger challenges. And then there’s the issue of funding. With the government admitting financial constraints, how many parks will materialize? Will corporate sponsorships—a nod to public-private partnerships—turn these parks into branded playgrounds?
Ah, the crusade against dirty toilets. Malaysia’s minister insists that public hygiene reflects a nation’s civilization. Perhaps. But framing toilets as a nation’s first impression feels like a cynical grasp for headlines. Yes, clean toilets matter. But when 1 billion people worldwide live in slums, shouldn’t basic housing and sanitation take precedence over restroom ratings?
The minister is right about one thing: too many UN events end as talk shows. There’s no shortage of bold declarations, but concrete action often lags behind. We can’t keep congratulating ourselves on plans that may or may not come to fruition. Words like inclusive, sustainable, and innovative are becoming tired clichés, thrown around like confetti without meaningful follow-through.
Final Thoughts: Is the World Urban Forum Delivering?
In a world teetering on the edge of environmental and social collapse, the World Urban Forum should be a platform for revolutionary change, not just another networking event. The minister’s plea for action—urgent, collaborative, global—rings true. But the gap between rhetoric and reality is vast.
Will the promises made at this forum translate into tangible improvements for the millions who need it most? Or will we gather again in a few years, asking the same questions, holding the same discussions, while the world’s urban crises deepen? Only time will tell—but time, as we know, is running out.
