Project Details

Representation in heat-adaptation decision-making: An exploratory case study with informal settlers in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Duration: 01.09.2024 - 31.08.2025
Research Team:

Prof. Dr. Rumana Huque (Projektleitung), ARK Foundation, Dhaka;

 

Prof. Dr. Melanie Boeckmann, Universität Bremen;

 

Khaleda Islam, Ministry of Health and Family welfare of Bangladesh;

 

Deepa Barua, ARK Foundation, Dhaka;

 

Lira Ramadani, Universität Bremen;

 
Project Partner: ARK Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesch; Universität Bremen
Project Type: Third-party funded project
Funding: World Health Organization

Description

Background

Bangladesh is among the countries most severely affected by climate change, facing frequent and severe climate-related events such as heatwaves and floods. Highly urbanized and densely populated areas, such as the capital city of Dhaka, are particularly vulnerable. Many people in Dhaka live in informal settlements where access to basic resources, including clean water, sanitation, and adequate healthcare, is limited. Additionally, Dhaka is one of the fastest-warming cities globally, significantly raising health risks for its population. Residents of these informal settlements are not only disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, but they are also often excluded from decision-making processes related to heat adaptation. This exclusion leads to a lack of consideration for the specific needs and challenges faced by these groups, resulting in an unequal distribution of climate risks.

 

Project Aim

This project aims to examine the ethical issues surrounding the representation of vulnerable groups in decision-making processes for heat adaptation in Dhaka. The focus is on exploring how residents of informal settlements can be more fairly and effectively included in these decision-making processes to reduce their heat-related health risks. The project seeks to identify pathways for these groups to bring their perspectives and needs into the design of adaptation measures, ultimately contributing to a more equitable distribution of climate adaptation resources.

 

Approach and Methods

The research will be conducted in two main steps:

 

Systematic Literature Review: A systematic literature review will first be conducted to assess the current state of knowledge on ethical issues related to representation in urban heat adaptation efforts in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). This review will help identify existing research gaps and establish a foundation for subsequent field research.

Ethnographic Field Study: The second step involves a rapid ethnographic assessment within an informal settlement in Dhaka. Through observations and semi-structured interviews, the study aims to gain insights into the social and infrastructural factors that shape the capacity of residents to adapt to heatwaves. The interviews will be guided by a disaster justice framework to capture the perspectives of residents regarding justice and representation in heat adaptation.

 

Expected Outcomes

This project will generate several practical, policy-relevant outputs:

 

  1. Policy Recommendations: The project will deliver policy recommendations to assist decision-makers in more equitably including vulnerable and underrepresented groups in heat adaptation policies.

  2. Guidelines for Ethical Research: A guide will be developed for researchers working in the field of climate change and health with vulnerable populations. This guide will outline ethical standards and best practices for conducting sensitive fieldwork in informal settlements.

  3. Scientific Publication: The study’s findings will be published in a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific article, aimed at reaching both academic and policy stakeholders in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).

 

In the long term, the project aims to improve the inclusion of marginalized groups in adaptation processes and lay the groundwork for a larger follow-up study.