UN-Habitat Designates Mexico City as Host of the 2028 World Urban Forum

UN-Habitat Designates Mexico City as Host of the 2028 World Urban Forum, Recognizing Its Public Policy Potential

FOREIGN AFFAIRS-TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT-MEXICO CITY GOVERNMENT Joint Press Release

• Mayor Clara Brugada called for an international coalition of cities for peace and the sovereignty of peoples
• Mexico City's leadership, recognized with UN-Habitat's Scroll of Honor for the "Las Utopías" project, set the stage for today's announcement, said Foreign Secretary De la Fuente
• A steering committee will be established to address the urban challenges facing cities ahead of the international forum

Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada Molina and federal officials announced that UN-Habitat has designated Mexico City as host of the 14th World Urban Forum 2028 (WUF14), describing it as a platform for discussion that will drive action to realize the human right to the city and to housing, and to build sustainable cities.

"We want our city to play a leading role in shaping the new international urban commitments of the future: a new cycle of partnerships and development agreements that will follow the 2030 Agenda," said Mayor Brugada.

The announcement was made at the Old City Hall Building, where Mayor Brugada was joined by Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente, Secretary of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development Edna Elena Vega Rangel, members of her cabinet, and representatives from academia, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

Speaking to those assembled, Mayor Brugada said the World Forum would give voice to all in building the planet's urban future, a mission she described as one of immense importance.

"We believe the cities of the world have an obligation to speak up for an international order based on international law and human rights; for an international order that permanently eradicates war and the use of force, or the threat of force, to resolve international conflicts; for an international order built on dialogue, cooperation, and multilateralism," she said.

She also called for universal solidarity and an international coalition of cities for peace and the sovereignty of peoples.

Looking ahead to 2028, Mayor Brugada said a collective building process begins today, and called on participants to spend the next two years rethinking the major urban challenges facing cities worldwide in order to shape the next generation of international agendas. To that end, a pluralistic Steering Committee will be established, drawing on academia, international organizations, civil society institutions, private organizations, social movements, and the various levels of government.

"This forum will be a great opportunity to set a new course, drawing on the commitment of cities. We want Mexico City to mark the beginning of a new era-an era of stronger partnerships, commitments that are actually fulfilled, and shared leadership among cities, nations, and international organizations for the decades to come," she said.

Mayor Brugada thanked UN-Habitat for selecting Mexico City as host of the 14th World Urban Forum, whose debates, she said, will resonate around the world, addressing crucial questions about realizing the human right to the city, transforming public space, guaranteeing decent housing, and building sustainable, peaceful cities at the subnational level.

She also noted that a Fair, Reasonable and Affordable Rents Law will soon be submitted to the city legislature, and highlighted the Mexico City Constitution's achievements in recognizing the right to the city as a constitutional right and establishing the public care system.

She emphasized that "Las Utopías," as a public policy, is an instrument of territorial justice that brings quality services to the poorest and most peripheral communities.

In his remarks, Foreign Secretary De la Fuente highlighted the immense significance of UN-Habitat's announcement for Mexico City and the country, describing it as the result of a collective effort that has given the capital a prominent and consequential role in urban leadership.

He said that Mexico City's leadership, which has received other international honors including UN-Habitat's Scroll of Honor for the "Las Utopías" social and urban transformation project, had set the stage for today's announcement.

Secretary De la Fuente said the 2028 Forum will be a great success due to the significant regional and global interest in the country's capital, not only because it is a prime example of how it has been possible to transform the city-despite all the challenges-into a city that is increasingly more humane, more inclusive, more resilient, better organized, with broad social participation and close collaboration among academia, the social sector, and all levels of government.

"In other words, this has required meticulous planning, a reordering of priorities, and an enormous capacity to convene and coordinate. And that is the leadership that UN-Habitat is recognizing in Mexico City today, led by our Mayor, Clara Brugada," he said.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts in key areas, including the most ambitious housing program in the country's history, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum and carried out by various agencies under the leadership of the Urban Development Ministry.

Secretary of Agrarian, Territorial and Urban Development Edna Elena Vega Rangel said Mexico City has the leadership and vision to make Mexico a model for building more just, sustainable, and inclusive cities, and to advance a territorial policy based on social justice.

She noted that the 2028 World Urban Forum would serve as a platform for dialogue and action, where concrete solutions could be developed to improve the quality of life of billions of people. It will also offer an opportunity to showcase Mexico and Mexico City's progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, opening a debate ahead of the 2030 Agenda review and placing Mexico at the center of a pivotal global conversation.

UN-Habitat Executive Director Ana Claudia Rossbach said Mexico City was selected as host of the 14th World Urban Forum 2028 for its leadership, vision, and commitment to more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities.

She said the event places Mexico and Mexico City at the center of the global urban debate, advancing national priorities and accelerating progress on housing, territorial development, mobility, and waste management. In 2028, she said, Mexico City will be the epicenter of a global conversation: "a metropolis that embodies both the complexity of urban challenges and the enormous potential for transformation."

The head of UN-Habitat's Mesoamerica and Cuba program, Fernanda Lonardoni, highlighted the forum as an opportunity to connect the global conversation with local realities, making experiences visible through a process that will build capacity, bring together stakeholders, produce tangible results, and forge partnerships among governments, civil society, the private sector, and communities.

Also participating in the announcement were Mexico City International Affairs Coordinator Rocío Lombera González; Secretary of Planning, Territorial Organization and Metropolitan Coordination Pablo Yanes Rizo; Housing Secretary Inti Muñoz Santini; Economic Development Secretary Manola Zabalza Aldama; and Rector of the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM) Gustavo Pacheco López.