Editorial: Climate change vulnerability, adaptation, and human settlements – Frontiers

Report on Climate Change Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Human Settlements in the Context of the Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: The Imperative for Climate Adaptation and the SDGs

Climate change presents a significant threat to the sustainable development of human settlements globally, directly challenging the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Adapting to climate impacts is crucial for ensuring progress is not undermined, particularly for realizing SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Human settlements have long faced environmental pressures such as urban flooding, water scarcity, and coastal erosion. Climate change exacerbates these pre-existing vulnerabilities, making the integration of adaptation strategies into local, national, and global planning essential for building resilience.

Analysis of Climate Vulnerability in Human Settlements

Geographic and Socio-Economic Disparities

Climate vulnerability is not uniformly distributed. It disproportionately affects developing nations and marginalized populations, undermining efforts toward SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities). Key vulnerability hotspots include:

• Sub-Saharan Africa: High risk due to poverty, institutional fragility, and exposure to droughts.
• South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan): High vulnerability from dense populations and frequent flooding.
• Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia): Threatened by sea-level rise and cyclones in coastal zones.
• Small Island Developing States (SIDS): Exceptionally vulnerable due to geographic isolation and limited adaptive capacity.

Effective vulnerability assessments must be location-specific and consider economic, social, and environmental factors. A critical component is the use of gender-disaggregated data to identify and address the root causes of differentiated vulnerability, a key step toward achieving SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Key Environmental Challenges and SDG Linkages

Climate change intensifies specific environmental challenges within human settlements, impacting several SDGs:

• Water Scarcity and Quality Issues: Affects arid and semi-arid regions, directly impacting SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Coastal Erosion and Sea-Level Rise: Threatens coastal communities and ecosystems, relevant to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
• Urban Flooding and Densification: Poses risks to rapidly growing cities and terrestrial ecosystems, connecting to SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Strategic Adaptation Pathways for Resilient Communities

Frameworks for Action

A multi-faceted approach to adaptation is required, combining physical, social, and institutional strategies. These strategies are fundamental to building climate-resilient settlements and advancing the 2030 Agenda.

1. Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Includes the development of green roofs, flood-retaining parks, and climate-smart building codes.
2. Nature-Based Solutions: Emphasizes ecosystem-based adaptation to enhance natural resilience.
3. Community-Based Adaptation: Focuses on empowering local communities and integrating indigenous knowledge systems into planning.
4. Disaster Risk Management: Involves the implementation of early warning systems and proactive risk reduction policies.
5. Equitable Planning: Ensures that marginalized groups, including the urban poor, women, and indigenous communities, are actively involved in decision-making processes.

The Role of Governance and Finance

The success of adaptation hinges on robust governance and adequate financial resources. Fragmented, multi-scalar governance currently constrains coordinated efforts. Achieving climate resilience requires:

• Coherent, Multi-Level Governance: Fostering collaboration across local, regional, and national levels is essential for creating effective institutions, as targeted by SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Equitable Adaptation Finance: Current funding is skewed toward large-scale infrastructure. There is a critical need to increase investment in social and community-based interventions to ensure equitable outcomes. This aligns with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Identified Research and Implementation Gaps

Data and Knowledge Deficiencies

Significant gaps in research and data limit the effectiveness of adaptation planning:

• A lack of disaggregated and longitudinal data on how vulnerability evolves over time, particularly across gender, age, and socio-economic groups.
• An under-exploration of urban-rural comparative studies, hindering insights into differentiated adaptation needs.
• Insufficient integration of local and indigenous knowledge systems into formal adaptation planning.
• The role of informality in settlements and governance is often overlooked.

Governance and Financial Shortfalls

• Fragmented multi-scalar governance continues to constrain coordinated and inclusive adaptation efforts.
• Adaptation finance remains skewed toward infrastructure and mitigation, with inadequate attention to social and community-based interventions.

Conclusion: A Call for Integrated Action for the SDGs

Addressing the multifaceted challenges of climate change in human settlements is fundamental to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Overcoming the identified gaps in data, governance, and finance requires a systemic approach that combines resilient infrastructure, ecosystem-based solutions, and inclusive governance. By prioritizing equitable, context-specific, and community-led adaptation pathways, the global community can build resilient settlements that support the well-being of all populations and ensure the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article connects climate vulnerability to poverty by highlighting that climate change disproportionately affects “socio-economically vulnerable populations,” the “urban poor,” and those in “low- and middle-income countries.” It also notes that Sub-Saharan Africa faces acute risks due to “persistent poverty.” This directly links the need for climate adaptation to poverty reduction efforts.

• SDG 5: Gender Equality

  The article explicitly addresses gender by calling for the use of “gender-disaggregated vulnerability data” to understand and address “gender-differentiated vulnerability.” It emphasizes the need to ensure marginalized groups, including “women,” are “actively involved in planning and decision-making,” linking climate resilience directly to gender equality and empowerment.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article identifies “water scarcity in arid and semi-arid regions” and “Water quality issues and challenges” as key environmental problems faced by human settlements, which are exacerbated by climate change. This connects the discussion to the goal of ensuring sustainable water management.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  This is a central theme. The article focuses on “human settlements” (urban, rural, coastal) and their challenges, such as “urban flooding,” “urban densification,” and the need for “rural housing subsidies.” It advocates for “climate-resilient infrastructure,” “climate-sensitive urban planning,” and upgrading “slum settlements,” all of which are core components of SDG 11.

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  The entire article is framed around climate change. It discusses “Climate Change Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Human Settlements,” calling for strengthened resilience, “local, national, and global adaptation plans,” and integrating “climate change measures into… planning.” This aligns perfectly with the core objectives of SDG 13.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article highlights the specific vulnerabilities of “coastal human settlements,” “delta and coastal regions,” and “Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” to “coastal erosion and sea-level rise.” This directly relates to the protection and sustainable management of marine and coastal ecosystems.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  The article promotes “Ecosystem-based adaptation” and “nature-based solutions” such as “green roofs” and “flood-retaining parks” as effective adaptation strategies. It also mentions risks from “deforestation.” This connects climate adaptation in settlements to the conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  The article underscores the importance of governance, noting that “fragmented multi-scalar governance continues to constrain coordinated and inclusive adaptation efforts.” It calls for “coherent, multi-level governance models” and highlights the role of “local governance” and “institutional capacity” in successful adaptation, which are key elements of SDG 16.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 1.5: Build the resilience of the poor and those in vulnerable situations and reduce their exposure and vulnerability to climate-related extreme events.

   The article’s focus on reducing the vulnerability of “socio-economically vulnerable populations,” the “urban poor,” and communities in “low- and middle-income countries” to climate impacts like flooding and droughts directly addresses this target.

2. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making.

   The article’s call for marginalized groups, specifically mentioning “women,” to be “actively involved in planning and decision-making” for climate adaptation aligns with this target.

3. Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.

   This is referenced through the discussion of challenges in “rural housing subsidies” and the need to address informality in “slum settlements,” which are highly vulnerable to climate impacts.

4. Target 11.5: Significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected… by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations.

   The article’s emphasis on “Disaster risk management,” adapting to “urban flooding,” and protecting vulnerable populations in developing nations like India, Bangladesh, and SIDS directly supports this target.

5. Target 11.b: Substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters.

   The text explicitly calls for “integrated policies,” “climate-sensitive urban planning,” “inclusive… adaptation pathways,” and “multi-level governance models” to build resilience, which is the essence of this target.

6. Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.

   This is the core subject of the article, which explores various adaptation strategies like “climate-resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, nature-based solutions,” and “community-based adaptation approaches” to enhance resilience.

7. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

   The article supports this target by advocating for the integration of adaptation into “long-term spatial planning and disaster risk reduction policies” and basing strategies on “National Climate Change Response insights.”

8. Target 13.b: Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.

   The article directly addresses this by highlighting the acute vulnerability of “Small Island Developing States (SIDS)” and the need to involve “marginalized groups (e.g., indigenous communities, urban poor, and women)” and integrate “local and indigenous knowledge systems” into planning.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Existence of national and local adaptation/disaster risk reduction strategies.

  Implied by the call for “local, national, and global adaptation plans” and integrating adaptation into “disaster risk reduction policies.” Progress can be measured by the number of communities with such plans.

• Use of gender-disaggregated data in planning.

  The article explicitly states it is “crucial to utilize gender-disaggregated vulnerability data.” The adoption of this practice in vulnerability assessments would be a direct indicator of progress.

• Proportion of population in vulnerable housing.

  Implied by the mention of “slum settlements” and “rural housing subsidies.” Tracking changes in the population living in these conditions indicates progress towards resilient housing.

• Adoption of nature-based solutions in urban planning.

  The article mentions “green roofs, flood-retaining parks” as innovative strategies. The number of cities implementing such solutions can be a clear indicator.

• Integration of local and indigenous knowledge in formal plans.

  The article critiques that this knowledge is “insufficiently integrated.” An indicator would be the extent to which formal adaptation plans incorporate these knowledge systems.

• Allocation of adaptation finance.

  The article notes that “adaptation finance remains skewed toward infrastructure.” An indicator would be the proportion of finance directed towards “social and community-based interventions” versus large-scale infrastructure.

• Level of participation of marginalized groups in decision-making.

  The article insists that groups like women and the urban poor must be “actively involved in planning.” Measuring the level and effectiveness of their participation in governance bodies for adaptation would be a key indicator.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: frontiersin.org