Climate justice in informal settlements in Buenos Aires

While hundreds of millions of people live in informal urban settlements worldwide, few studies or published practical experiences discuss the integration of climate change adaptation and mitigation into participatory low-income settlement upgrading processes.

This absence generates further inequities, as climate action focuses on wealthier parts of the city.

Interventions that address climate extremes and threats in low-income neighbourhoods, risk mitigation, and community engagement in decarbonisation and in decisions regarding the climate agenda all require more thought and practice.

Barrio 20 is an informal settlement in the city of Buenos Aires that is leading in this direction. After participatory urban upgrading since 2016 with no focus on climate issues, over the last three years Barrio 20’s process has embraced climate action and learned from the collective implementation of pilot interventions.

This briefing provides key findings and recommendations from Barrio 20 for policymakers and practitioners.