Cities in the Global South face growing internal displacement due to climate change. A recent study reveals that the rapid growth of informal urban areas in Latin America isn’t just a natural economic phase—it’s a result of neglect and harmful stereotypes. This study, published in the journal World, challenges popular beliefs about informal settlements and highlights their negative impacts on climate refugees.
In the study, titled “Dismantling the Myths of Urban Informality for the Inclusion of the Climate Displaced in Cities of the Global South”, researchers examine how outdated narratives and policy inaction have normalized informality. This has left many climate-displaced individuals in Latin America without essential rights, infrastructure, and job opportunities.
Myths That Fuel Urban Informality
The study identifies four myths that explain why informality persists in slums.
Low Productivity Justifies Informality: Some believe that informal sectors are a natural outcome of underperforming economies. However, this perspective overlooks how poor policies have entrenched informality, which often leads to ongoing poverty rather than progress.
Informality is a Favor from the Elite: The idea that the elite allow informal activities to help the poor is misleading. In reality, this dynamic often serves to maintain existing power structures rather than empower marginalized communities.
Informal Economies Show Resilience: While informal networks may foster community ties, they can also isolate residents from better opportunities. This isolation keeps people in a cycle of poverty, limiting their chances for upward mobility.
Formalization Has Little Benefit: Many think that going formal isn’t worth it due to a lack of services. But access to formal systems is crucial for breaking the cycle of poverty. In fact, informality limits crucial protections like healthcare and legal rights.
Impact on Climate Migrants
Informality significantly hinders the ability of climate refugees to secure stable lives. As climate change forces more than 200 million people to relocate by 2050, many end up in dangerous and poorly constructed settlements. In 2024 alone, Latin America is projected to see 14.5 million internal displacements.
These informal neighborhoods often lack essential services, leading to low-quality jobs and long commutes. Many migrants accept poorly paid work or turn to illegal markets for survival. When concentrated in these areas, they struggle to influence change or advocate for their needs.
Informality doesn’t just create administrative challenges; it deepens socio-economic divides. The study indicates that it prevents access to safe employment, credit, and legal rights, locking migrants into a vulnerable state.
Reframing Policymaking
The study emphasizes the need for a new perspective on climate migration and urban informalization. Instead of seeing these issues as crises, they should be viewed as opportunities for creating inclusive communities.
Policymakers should incorporate climate migration into national planning. Rather than allowing informality to persist, they must implement policies that provide education, healthcare, and legal employment. Investments in public services and governance that include all citizens are crucial.
Additionally, empowering residents to participate in decision-making processes can help shift the narrative. Community voices should matter, and equitable budgeting can help transition informal neighborhoods into established urban areas.
Lastly, it’s vital to understand that formalization isn’t a reward—it’s a right. Legal recognition and access to necessary services are important for building resilient communities and economies.
This rethinking of how we view informality could lead to better lives for millions of climate refugees. By correcting the misconceptions that sustain urban informality, we can pave the way for more inclusive and thriving cities.
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climate migration in Latin America, informal settlements and climate migrants, Latin America urban inequality, structural inequality in cities, socioeconomic challenges of climate migrants, informal economy in Latin America, Global South climate migration
