ABSTRACT
In 2011, the World Bank published a Case Study Overview reporting on the challenges facing the urban poor in terms of climate change and disaster risk. The city is experiencing a changing climate with heavier rainfall events and higher maximum temperatures alongside temporary decreases in air humidity that are, somewhat paradoxically, leaving some areas desertified. In conjunction with a Mayor’s Task Force from the city, the report highlights a number of intersecting challenges facing these communities. In August 2019, the Guardian newspaper reported on a study demonstrating the links between growing up with air pollution and a range of mental health issues – including schizophrenia. Comparing insurance data, the authors found that rates of bipolar disorder were 27% higher in those counties with the poorest air quality than those with the best.
