ABSTRACT
Housing is essential to the well-being and development of most societies. Housing and settlements lie at the intersection of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA), and should be approached holistically as they are multi-scalar and multi-sectorial in essence. DRR has been focused on supporting the most vulnerable through community participation, while CCA has been centred on a top-down perspective, based on technocracy and global policy agendas rather than practical implementation. The tools of CCA are mitigation and adaptation, two complementary strategies and inseparable elements for reducing and managing the risks of climate change and contributing to climate-resilient pathways for sustainable development, while raising issues of equity, justice and fairness. One of the key drivers behind a population's exposure to hazards is the production of housing, especially in urban settlements, a process that reflects inequality and dualism.
