The United Nations established the World Urban Forum (WUF) in 2001 to address one of the most urgent challenges facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change, and policies. The forum is a high-level, open, and inclusive platform aimed at tackling the challenges of sustainable urbanization.

The objectives of the World Urban Forum are the following:

• Raise awareness at all levels of government, civil society and the general public about sustainable urbanization.
   
• Contribute to improving collective knowledge about sustainable urban development through an open and inclusive debate, the exchange of good practices and specific policies, and the sharing of knowledge learned.
   
• Promote collaboration and cooperation between the different participants in the WUF involved in the advancement and implementation of sustainable urbanization.

Aligned with the objectives of the World Urban Forum, the Diputació de Barcelona, the Generalitat de Catalunya, the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona and the Barcelona City Council are present at WUF 10, which takes place in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates) from 8 to February 13. Under the motto 'Catalonia, when ideas become actions', the most outstanding projects underway in Catalonia in the areas of healthy cities, urban well-being, urban quality and housing, prosperity and innovation are presented, climate change and good governance. One of them is the BCN Smart Rural.