Medellín's Informal Settlements Lead Climate Resilience with Community Action
Informal hillside settlements in Medellín, Colombia, face escalating risks from flooding and landslides as climate change intensifies. These densely packed neighbourhoods, built on unstable terrain, are particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, with a tragic landslide in 1987 claiming 500 lives. However, grassroots initiatives are now transforming this narrative through innovative, nature-based solutions.
Community-Driven Climate Adaptation Plan
In the neighbourhood of Golondrinas, within Comuna 8, resident Róbinson Velásquez Cartagena exemplifies this proactive approach. He has designed and installed a rainwater harvesting system at his home, using large tanks to collect water from rooftop drainage. This system reduces runoff that contributes to flooding, while repurposing the water for household tasks like laundry and toilet flushing. Velásquez Cartagena, a community leader pursuing a master's in environmental engineering, explains, "I started this to prove it can lower disaster risks by managing street water during rains."
His efforts are part of the broader Local Agreement for Inclusive Climate Action, developed over three years and formally launched in August 2023. This plan, a collaboration between residents, Medellín's disaster risk management department (DAGRD), the Comuna 8 housing committee, and Heriot-Watt University in the UK, outlines eight key measures. These include rainwater management, reforestation to control erosion, and establishing eco-gardens and agroforestry systems.
Pilot Projects and Nature-Based Solutions
While originally focused on disaster management, the plan has evolved to address climate adaptation comprehensively. It features climate risk assessments, heat maps, and action points, emphasising affordable, practical solutions. "We need these because the risk level is very high," says Velásquez Cartagena.
In the El Pacifico neighbourhood, Nancy Elena Quiros Correa oversees a community tree nursery on a small plot. She notes, "The nursery prevents rockfalls, absorbs rainwater, and boosts biodiversity." Having experienced weather-related disasters firsthand, including a flood in 2020 that damaged homes, she highlights Medellín's shifting climate: "It's hotter and wetter now, with more intense rains."
Other initiatives include a rainwater-harvesting system at a local community centre and an ecological restoration garden. Harry Smith, a professor at Heriot-Watt University involved in the projects, explains, "The garden stabilises land and combats illegal land invasions by armed groups selling plots." The community's proactive stance, launching pilot projects independently, demonstrates their commitment without waiting for municipal support.
Challenges and Future Prospects
Despite progress, securing government funding and support remains a hurdle. Quiros Correa expresses scepticism, stating, "Everything achieved here involved fighting and negotiating with local government." Juan David Moreno of DAGRD acknowledges the challenge, noting, "Implementing proposals across all departments and communities is the biggest test."
The Comuna 8 plan now serves as a model for Medellín's 21 comunas, with adaptations based on local needs and hazards. Moreno emphasises the key lesson: "Working closely with residents, who understand local risks, is crucial." Velásquez Cartagena aims to promote the plan nationally and across Latin America as a blueprint for community-organisation collaboration. "We hope the municipality funds it, as small actions make real differences," he asserts.
This grassroots movement showcases how vulnerable urban areas can lead in climate resilience, blending traditional knowledge with innovative practices to safeguard against environmental threats.
