CClimate change is reshaping the world, increasing global challenges in health, employment, education, and personal safety. But world leaders often ignore the place where the climate crisis hits home for people: their homes.
Increasingly frequent natural disasters, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events not only threaten existing homes but also increase the cost of building and maintaining safe and decent homes. Habitat for Humanity, through our work in more than 70 countries, sees firsthand that low-income families—even though they contribute the least to global carbon emissions—often bear the brunt of climate change. This is especially true for the more than one billion people who live in slums and other slums.
But here’s the good news: these communities hold the solution, if only we stopped to really listen, hear how climate change affects their daily lives and invest in major efforts to make more homes safer, healthier and more resilient.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Climate displacement could displace more than 215 million people around the world by 2050, with the greatest impact on low-income and rapidly urbanizing countries. Contrary to fears that most climate-affected communities will migrate to countries with high incomes, most remain within their borders, most live in poorly constructed shantytowns. These areas, which are already vulnerable to the effects of climate change, will face greater difficulties as displaced people settle there, putting more pressure on limited resources.
Read more: Leading Cities in the ‘Climate and Health Crisis.’ New Report Provides Framework for Addressing Its Results
Whether we realize it or not, the places we call home are at the heart of the climate crisis—both contributing to the crisis while having the greatest potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. According to the United Nations Environment Programme, the built environment accounts for 21% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, with residential buildings accounting for 17% of all emissions. As the planet heats up and climate disasters intensify, the role of housing becomes even more critical—not only in reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also in providing stability and security to those most affected.
World leaders have an opportunity—and I would argue an obligation—to focus on climate change, especially within the Global South. To ignore this is to miss a large part of the puzzle of dealing with the climate challenge, as well as important issues such as economic development, health and education.
Climate change housing and development
Numerous studies have proven that having a safe and secure place to call home leads to improved quality of life in any number of measurable outcomes. Even simple shelters can significantly affect the trajectory of the lives of those who live there. However, for millions of families living in slums, homes often lack basic amenities, land security and climate resilience. These challenges are difficult but they also present a unique opportunity to combat climate change. By investing in adequate shelters for slum dwellers we will not only address a moral imperative but will unlock one of the smartest and most impactful strategies for building a sustainable and equitable future.
Recent research conducted on behalf of Habitat for Humanity shows that adequate housing is a powerful driver of well-being and sustainability. It contributes to the development of the country’s economy, income, health, and education for both slum dwellers and the community at large. GDP and per capita income would increase by 10.5 percent in some countries if slum housing could be improved on a large scale, and up to 41.6 million more children could be enrolled in school.
And while the link between housing and climate change is clear, world leaders continue to ignore access to adequate shelter as a tool for adaptation and mitigation.
A critical gap in climate action plans
Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, are the cornerstone of global climate action, defining each country’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and adapting to the effects of climate change under the Paris Agreement. However, only 21% of all countries show a high level of commitment to the housing sector in their NDCs while just over 60% fail to prioritize housing.
This omission is an obvious omission. Housing-based approaches that adapt communities and households to climate impacts, including comprehensive slum development, are critical to climate action and advancing sustainable development goals. These strategies not only address climate resilience but also provide ways to improve health, education and economic outcomes.
In response to these challenges, Habitat for Humanity has changed the way we work. Globally, Habitat builds and renovates homes, maximizing the use of sustainable natural resources and construction processes while reducing greenhouse gas emissions throughout the home’s life cycle.
To scale up these efforts, we urge the leaders of the G7 countries to recognize and support the reduction and rehabilitation of housing, especially slums, in their climate actions. By investing in housing solutions, countries can make progress towards meeting their climate goals while promoting strong, sustainable and equitable communities.
A home is more than a place to live. Home equals better health, safety and security, and serves as the foundation for a better future—for families and the world.
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