We held the forum “Climate change and informal settlements: Challenges and impacts”

San Pedro Sula, Honduras.

Habitat for Humanity Honduras (HPPH), in conjunction with the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Decentralization, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the international humanitarian agency GOAL Honduras and the Central American Technological University (Unitec), developed on Friday, August 23 in the main auditorium of this university in San Pedro Sula, the forum “Climate Change and Informal Settlements: Challenges and Impacts”.

This initiative was carried out within the framework of HPHH’s political advocacy program called “Home is…”, which is currently being implemented in the 20 municipalities that make up the Metropolitan Zone of the Sula Valley, and served as a space for dialogue to promote a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by informal settlements in the face of climate change.

It also allowed the development of strategies to strengthen urban resilience and improve the quality of life of affected communities in Honduras by addressing issues such as the complex dynamics that exist between informal settlements and climate change, highlighting both the deep vulnerabilities and innovative strategies that emerge in response to these challenges.

In addition, through the analysis and participation of national and international panelists, the event examined how inclusive urban planning, effective policies and multi-sectoral collaborations can strengthen the resilience of these communities and promote sustainable and equitable urban development in a rapidly changing climate world.

Climate change not only amplifies existing risks, such as floods, droughts and heat waves, but also introduces new challenges that compromise the safety and well-being of millions of people in these settlements. The adaptive capacity of these communities, often marginalized and without access to formal resources, is severely tested by the need to manage increasing environmental risks as they seek to meet basic needs such as access to water, water sanitation and safe housing.