Report of the fifth session of the World Urban Forum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This conference report summarises the key messages conveyed during the debates by the United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) and its partners, both inside and outside government, stating that bridging the urban divide is the starting point to make cities less vulnerable to disasters. It highlights the importance of taking climate change adaptation measures and strengthening disaster management strategies so as to reduce the vulnerability of human settlements.

It features the issue of climate change and its potentially disastrous impact on cities, which was discussed during the thematic open debate 'reducing vulnerability to climate change' where representatives shared good examples of public awareness raising, capacity building and risk mapping. It also reports on the special session on Haiti: 'building back better', where participants reviewed the devastating earthquake that occurred in Haiti on 12 January 2010 and examined ways to improve the rebuilding process, such as committing to producing technical tools on building codes and standards; designing and implementing capacity‑building activities; and educating stakeholders in safe multi-hazard resilient and climate change adaptation construction practices.

The overall report highlights three key messages and opportunities for new partnerships: (i) to build communities more sustainably; (ii) to restore security to housing markets; and (iii) to incorporate innovative and sustainable approaches in the way that we plan for disaster and offset climate change.

The fifth session of the World Urban Forum was held in Rio de Janeiro Brazil from 22 to 26 March 2010.