Page 12 - UmRio Sustainability - Action Plan

PROJECT BACKGROUND

As discussed previously, favelas are informal settlements with a dense population and

precarious living conditions. Approximately 1.4 million people live in favelas, or 22% of Rio
de Janeiro’s population (Instituto Pereira Passos, 2020). These communities face significant
challenges due to climate change, including increased risk of landslides, flooding,
heatwaves, water contamination, and many other issues that disproportionately affect
favela residents due to the informal and precarious nature of the neighborhoods and their
structures (Britto & Pessoa, 2023).

Chart of neighborhoods and favelas Morro do Castro is shown here in the
located within each District in São
Gonçalo. Morro do Castro is in the 5th District, number 49. “Mapas e
5th District. (“Mapas e Bairros,” n.d.) Bairros,” n.d.)

Physical Vulnerability

Geography and Infrastructure: The majority of favelas in the state of Rio de Janeiro are

located on steep hillsides and near oceans, lakes, or rivers, making them particularly
susceptible to landslides and flooding (Fahlberg et al., 2020). Informal and low-cost
construction and extensive paving of previously ‘green’ areas within the favelas create
neighborhoods with poor drainage. Many regions also have informal sewage sanitation
access, exacerbating these risks (2020). In addition, the informal building and lack of
formal titles to their property increase the use of cheap or reused building materials that
may not provide adequate safety for families and are not sufficient to protect residents
against the effects of climate change (Schmidt, 2022).

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