Figure 7.10: Health, climate and livelihood/asset benefits of upgrading informal settlements

training to local residents who implemented the retrofits.91 In Richmond, US, the city’s climate action plan provided free or subsidized solar power and home energy efficiency programmes; the related programme RichmondBUILD trained young people (often ex-offenders) in building trade skills to install the new solar and home energy equipment.92 More generally, cooler housing designs can reduce heat stress and lower energy consumption, with particular benefits for older persons, children, people with pre-existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups.93

Meanwhile, efforts to promote cycling and pedestrianization can support access to work or education, improve local economies due to enhanced footfall, and may enhance disaster resilience by providing all-weather paths in informal settlements (Figure 7.10). For instance, Nairobi’s largescale upgrading programme in Mukuru known as a Special Planning Area (SPA) has created inclusive transport solutions thanks to strong collaborations between local officials, academics, civil society and community residents.94 For the upgraded transport network, the widest road will be 12 meters rather than 48 meters (as per Kenyan planning standards for roads), thus displacing far fewer residents than would have occurred if using conventional roads. At the same time, the SPA has prioritized improving non-motorized transport (an appropriate choice as most Mukuru residents are pedestrians), which also fosters healthy and low-carbon mobility patterns.

Figure 7.10: Health, climate and livelihood/asset benefits of upgrading informal settlements

Source: Diagram by S. Ray in Sverdlik et al, 2019, C40/Cities Alliance.