The dense urban populations in South Asia are particularly susceptible to negative climate changes (World Bank, 2013)¹, and the most vulnerable group comprises an estimated 190.7 million people (www.un.org) living in informal settlements (IPCC, 2013)². Their informality often leaves them outside the ambit of public sector response. In India, 4620 people have lost their lives due to extreme heat or heat waves in the past four years³.
The casualties and adverse impacts of heat stress were higher among slum dwellers due to vulnerable infrastructures made of heat-trapping materials such as tin sheets, cement sheets (asbestos), plastic, and tarpaulin, without proper ventilation facilities. These houses are not merely dwellings but also a source of livelihood for many, as they are mostly involved in home- based work⁴.
According to the Global Climate Risk Index for 2020, India ranks as the fifth most vulnerable country out of 181 countries to the effects of climate change, with its poorest citizens being the most at risk⁵. It is crucial to build climate resilience capacities in communities to enable them to survive, adapt, and progress in the face of climate risks without distress or loss of assets. The approach to achieving this goal should be anchored in bottom-up, individuals-led, locally-led adaptation by building a culture of resilience.
Demystifying the climate crisis for the urban poor
The first necessary step is to communicate in a language that the poor can understand. Information regarding climate change is frequently filled with scientific terminology and technical jargon, making it accessible only to those in academic circles. Consequently, the significance of how climate change will affect the lives of the poorest is often overlooked by them.
Mahila Housing Trust, an organisation dedicated to working with urban slums for over two decades, discovered during its community discussions that the poor noticed significant changes in weather patterns over time. However, 90 percent of them attributed these changes to the “grace of God.”
Adopting a socio technical approach to the climate disaster
There is an emergence of ‘eco-friendly’ building products such as roofs, lanterns, fans, etc., which are being targeted towards poor communities with funding support from foundations and CSR initiatives. However, many products are not readily accepted due to the perception that they are inferior or contextually inappropriate. For instance, investments in cool roofs, if not potable, may not be popular in urban slums where eviction is a constant threat. Low-income households aspire to improve their living and working environment to match familiar standards.
The fact that the products are ‘sustainable‘ or ‘eco-friendly’ does not mean much to poor communities unless they offer tangible benefits over mainstream solutions, justifying their higher costs. What is required is a socio-technical approach where the communities’ preferences and requirements inform the design of products and services for them.
Additionally, the business model for the social entrepreneur must be enabled for scale and sustainability.
Women as climate change agents
A quick scan of the representation of women on portfolios and committees reveals that they are predominantly limited to issues such as reproductive and maternal health, gender-based violence, and child marriage. However, there is a crucial missing link in the efforts towards environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainable development: the inclusion of women in decision-making and active participation. The role of women in sustainable development is multidimensional, and their voices should be included at every forefront.
Women often act as the first responders in their families, possess unique ideas and perspectives, and frequently drive change at various levels. Literature supports the notion that women can be effective change agents, positively influencing household and community behaviours. While women are more vulnerable to climate change, they also hold significant potential to become agents of change in climate change mitigation and adaptation. As responsible members of families and stewards of household resources, women have the power to reshape our way of living by instilling new habits in children.
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Way forward
The need of the hour is to equip the poor with information on climate change in a language they can appreciate and empower them to undertake actions and change their behaviours to adapt to and mitigate these risks. India’s G20 presidency provides us with a great opportunity to develop this blueprint, including the urban informal sector, especially women, as P3P ambassadors. The U20, with its diverse network of partners, has an opportunity to demonstrate that policies and practices adopted and propagated by Indian cities have powerful implications for achieving global agendas of sustainable development.
References:
1- https://www.worldbank.org/en/ region/sar/brief/integrating-climate- and-development-in-south-asia/ integrating-climate-and-development- in-south-asia-region
2- https://data.unhabitat.org/pages/ housing-slums-and-informal- settlements
3- https://www.statista.com/ statistics/1006983/india-deaths-due- to-heat-waves/
4- https://www.mahilahousingtrust.org/ practice-areas/building-climate- resilience-and-energy-efficiency/
5- https://www.germanwatch.org/ en/17307