Lagos informal settlements innovate climate adaptation systems amid systemic neglect
Original framing: “Climate vulnerable residents in Nigeria are creating makeshift adaptation systems” — Phys.org
The informal settlements in Lagos are a direct result of colonial urban planning and post-colonial economic policies that prioritized capital over people. The current climate adaptation systems are a continuation of historical resistance to systemic neglect. Historical parallels can be drawn with other post-colonial cities facing similar challenges.
The climate adaptation systems in Lagos informal settlements are not 'makeshift' but are sophisticated, community-driven responses to systemic neglect.
These systems are rooted in historical patterns of resistance and resilience, drawing on Indigenous knowledge and cross-cultural practices of communal resource management. The scientific evidence supports the effectiveness of these systems, but their potential is constrained by power structures that devalue non-Western knowledge. By integrating these systems into formal climate policy, supporting urban planning that prioritizes equity, and amplifying marginalized voices, we can create a more inclusive and effective global climate response. This synthesis reveals the need for a paradigm shift in how we understand and value climate adaptation in the Global South.