A built environment perspective on adaptation in urban informal settlements, Khulna, Bangladesh

The IPCC Fifth Assessment Report identifies urban informal settlements as the most vulnerable type of human settlements to climate change. The physical growth and socio-economic expansion of informal settlements takes place largely outside any official rules and regulations and in distressed and climate-vulnerable locations. Climate change is magnifying existing urban problems in rapidly urbanizing towns and cities in Bangladesh conditions. Urban informal settlements in Khulna are also characterized by overarching non-climatic trends of population growth, rapid urbanization and intensification of economic activities. Rupsha is surrounded by a wide range of mixed land use such as industrial and commercial establishments, including shrimp processing houses and cold storage, sawmills and retail stores. In double-storey dwelling units, services are found at the lower level, while the upper levels are comprised of bed and storage spaces with a small semi-outdoor space. Anticipating hazard effects, and depending on affordability, households choose durable or temporary building materials.