The workshop led by Felipe Vera and Camila Arretche explored the possible interrelation between human migration, informal settlements, and future climate change in the domain of Latin America. Building over the premise based on an increase in forced human migration would lead to the rise or stem of new informal settlements. It could induce an overall growth of the human population by thirty percent in all informal settlements around Latin America by 2050, making them most susceptible to the challenges faced by climate change. Thus it becomes critical that possible solutions are explored for tackling such current and future incidents at various levels of urbanization. Our group investigated the potential scenario of Buenos Aires on an urban scale with four major informal settlements namely Rodrigo Bueno, Villa 31, Villa 21 -24, and Barrio Catalinas.
SHEET 1
We start by trying to formulate and contextualize the issues of informal settlements’ lack of access to basic human needs and the distribution of immigrants around the urban fabric of Buenos Aires. To understand the threat posed by climate change we analyzed the predicted scenarios of Coastal flooding, Fluvial Flooding, and Heatwave of the year 2040 along with regions prone to waterlogging by precipitation, and areas with loss of Biodiversity (Deforestation Data). We also mapped terrain flow and old streams converted into canals and covered by road infrastructure. Overlaying them together gave us areas of informal settlements that are highly vulnerable to climate change in the current scenario. We also overlaid the climate risk with urban indicators such as urban habitat, population, health and education centers, and road and public transit to understand a holistic impact on distinct informal settlements and urban infrastructure around them.
SHEET 2
Similar to the previous sheet we tried to analyze the most pessimistic scenario imagined for climate change by interpreting climate change scenarios for 2100. We also examined the future growth of all the informal settlements in the study area, to understand the needs that they will be catering, to and the effects that they will face due to climate change, in individual and collective circumstances. We understood that this worst-case scenario will lead to the displacement of, the influx of new migrants and also informal settlement either by rehabilitation or by self-relocation. We predetermined the flow of the informal settlement by overlaying multiple points of interest like proximity to public transit, parking lots, less dense neighborhood, industrial zone, etc. Now these overlaid areas become possible sites to adapt the informal settlements.
SHEET 3
All the analysis carried out in the previous sheets led us to understand how the natural streams (fluvial flood streams) in the city were blocked by building roads on them. This was the main concern that we tried to address in our Adaptive management strategy. The Adaptive Management Strategy is a systematic approach that facilitates flexible decision-making. It is an iterative process in which management actions are followed by targeted monitoring and assessment. As outcomes from current and future management actions become better understood, the decision-making and management can be refined. We looked into the climatic risk, identify the risks they pose, and devise 3 different programs which would make the city landscape resilient and equip it with the right characteristics needed to adapt and mitigate the climatic risks.
Redefine:
Improving existing Transport networks & public spaces to meet the code of future climatic risk requirements. – Slow Mobility, Surface treatments, Green Urban Corridor
Remediate:
Replacing and correcting some of the man-made damage to the environment by reestablishing biophysical processes that facilitate the balance of ecosystems. – Riparian Flood Zones, Coastal Resilience, Green Urban Corridors
Reprogram:
Providing new activities and uses for underutilized, abandoned, or obsolete sites within the neighborhood. Reconfiguring of open spaces that have the potential, due to their location and condition, to become public spaces. – Place Making, Reconfiguration of Open Spaces, Reconfiguration of Urban Land Use.
