Climate resilience in informal settlements: the role of natural infrastructure

• Main Authors: Rauf, Hanna A., Wolff, Erich, Hamel, Perrine
• Other Authors: R. Brears
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Geography::Environmental sciences; Social sciences::Geography::Human ecology; Natural Infrastructure; Nature-Based Solutions; Urban Planning; Informal Urbanisation; Climate Resilience
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/166032
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

A large share of urban development in the Global South consists of informal settlements. In addition to multiple everyday risks, informal dwellers face climate-related risks such as flooding and heat waves. Solutions relying on natural infrastructure – greenspace, trees, bioretention systems – increase climate resilience in informal settlements as part of upgrading projects codeveloped with local communities. In addition to addressing hydroclimatic risks, nature-based solutions provide multiple co-benefits such as supporting biodiversity, improving water quality, and increasing quality of life through aesthetic and social benefits. Case studies in Colombia, Fiji, and Indonesia exemplify how natural infrastructure can be implemented in practice, while also highlighting challenges due to data collection and sometimes resettlement of local communities. They pave the way to mainstreaming natural infrastructure considerations in upgrading projects that improve climate resilience in informal settlements.