An event titled "Media as a Driver of Public Discourse on Housing and Urban Resilience" was organized in Baku by the "Media Development Center (MDC)" Public Union, with the organizational support of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations, within the framework of the 13th Session of the United Nations World Urban Forum (WUF13).

The event commenced with the screening of a video presentation dedicated to reconstruction efforts.

Following the screening, Gabil Rustamov, Head of the "Media Development Center" Public Union, stated that the "smart city" and "smart village" projects, alongside the green energy and modern urban planning solutions currently implemented by Azerbaijan in its Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur regions, serve as significant examples. He noted that the media plays a vital role in promoting inclusive urbanization, green infrastructure, and sustainable development policies.

Rizvan Nabiyev, Member of the Milli Majlis and Member of the Supervisory Board of the State Support Agency for Non-Governmental Organizations, drew attention to the fact that modern media is not merely a source of information. He emphasized that it also acts as a driving force for international communication and national interests, and is a highly important actor in increasing sustainability and resilience, particularly in cities and human settlements.

Nigar Arpadarai, the COP29 Climate High-Level Champion and Member of the Milli Majlis, stated that cities have always been indicators of economic progress, adding that the media naturally plays a special intermediary role in this process, facilitating equal and rapid information exchange.

In her speech, Shafag Mehraliyeva, Member of the Supervisory Board of the Media Development Agency and lecturer in Communication and Digital Media at ADA University, remarked that international platforms like WUF13 play a crucial role in the public discussion of urban planning, sustainable development, and urbanization issues. She noted that media professionalism, digital communication, and high-quality public awareness are of particular importance in accurately conveying such global initiatives to society.

Rasim Baghirov, Director of the International Relations and Documentation Department of the Media Development Agency, spoke about the role of the media in properly communicating urban planning and sustainable development topics to the public. He stated that the professional and responsible coverage of issues related to urbanization, climate change, and urban resilience is an essential factor in the modern information ecosystem.