UN-Habitat’s Anacláudia Rossbach Declares Housing Shortage a Global Risk to Cities and Economies

The 2026 edition of MIPIM in Cannes opened with a stark reality check. Real estate represents nearly 40% of global assets and 13% of world GDP, yet the fundamental human need for shelter is going unmet on a colossal scale. Anacláudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat, delivered the sobering keynote: almost three billion people still live in substandard housing. She framed the housing deficit not merely as a social ill, but as a direct “macroeconomic risk for metropolises,” crippling their ability to attract businesses, talent, and investment. The message was clear: the housing crisis is now a central pillar of economic stability, and cities cannot solve it alone. Housing Crisis Takes Center Stage at MIPIM 2026. “Almost 3 Billion People Live in Inadequate Conditions,” Warns UN-Habitat Chief A consensus emerged from the panels that public-private partnerships are the only viable path forward. With governments unable to foot the bill alone, private capital is essential for converting existing buildings, densifying urban areas, and financing sustainable projects. However, developers on the ground point to a significant disconnect. In Luxembourg, François Piron of Thomas & Piron highlighted the crushing combination of expensive land bought pre-crisis, soaring construction costs, and punishing administrative delays that [...]

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