Guyana’s sustainable housing model highlighted at WUF13

Minister of Housing, Collin D Croal, participated in the High-Level Ministerial Thematic Panel on “Housing for Urban Prosperity and Opportunities for All” during the opening day of the Thirteenth Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) being held in Baku, Azerbaijan from May 17–22, 2026.

During the Ministerial engagement on the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, Minister Croal highlighted Guyana’s approach to sustainable urban development through strong collaboration between national agencies and local authorities to deliver low-carbon and climate-resilient development.

The Minister shared Guyana’s model for advancing global climate objectives while simultaneously promoting resilient urban development, noting that the country’s key urban development initiatives are being implemented under the framework of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030.
He further explained that Guyana’s housing programme also incorporates the construction of low-carbon housing models that includes climate-resilient designs, sustainable building materials, and provisions for renewable energy integration.

Minister Croal also outlined several transformative initiatives currently being pursued by the Government of Guyana, including Silica City — the Caribbean’s first climate-smart city — and the Hyde Park Homestead Programme, a flagship initiative designed to provide affordable timber-built homes, sustainable agriculture opportunities, and income-generating avenues for single mothers and low-income families.

The New Urban Agenda adopted at Habitat III in 2016 and endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly, establishes a global framework for sustainable and inclusive urban development and serves as a key driver of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

WUF13, which is being held under the theme, “Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities”, serves as an important international platform for assessing progress made toward the implementation of the New Urban Agenda at its mid-term stage, while renewing global commitments toward sustainable urban transformation.