Ensuring that housing, including in informal settlements, is safe and healthy for its residents is a key tool in the fight to build more sustainable and equitable communities in the face of climate migration.

As climate migration displaces more and more people around the world, building more resilient housing will become key to managing urban growth and shifts in population centers, writes Jonathan Reckford in Time. “According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the built environment accounts for 21% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with residential buildings responsible for 17% of the total emissions. As the planet warms and climate disasters intensify, housing’s role becomes even more critical—not only in reducing emissions but also providing stability and safety to those most affected.”
Housing-centric approaches that adapt communities and households to climate impacts, including comprehensive slum upgrading, are essential for climate actions and advancing sustainable development goals. These strategies not only address climate resilience but also provide pathways for improved health, education, and economic outcomes.
According to Habitat by Humanity research, “GDP and income per capita would increase by as much as 10.5% in some countries if housing in informal settlements were upgraded at a massive scale, and as many as 41.6 million additional children could be enrolled in school.” For Reckford, addressing the needs of people living in informal settlements — often without access to safe infrastructure or clean water — is a crucial part of building more sustainable and equitable communities.
FULL STORY: Why Housing Is a Frontline Defense Against Climate Change

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

North Texas Transit Leaders Tout Benefits of TOD for Growing Region
At a summit focused on transit-oriented development, policymakers discussed how North Texas’ expanded light rail system can serve as a tool for economic growth.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners
How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

Philadelphia Could Lose Free Transit Program
The city’s upcoming budget doesn’t include the Zero Fare program, which offers free SEPTA fare to more than 24,000 residents.

Inferior US Vehicle Standard Threaten European Safety
EU vehicles are much safer than U.S. vehicles due to better standards. The U.S. wants its standard to be considered ‘equivalent’ for import purposes. A European Transport Safety Council report examines the conflict.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network
The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.
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