Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
1 billion urban citizens live in informal settlements like slums and shanty towns, vulnerable to the most extreme impacts of climate change - flooding, prolonged drought and unprecedented heatwaves. India is in the eye of this storm — in May 2024, places in northern India, including Delhi, were suffering under temperatures as high as 50C, with those experiencing poverty most affected.
In this episode Philippa Nuttall is joined by Sheela Patel, activist, founding director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers and member of The Club of Rome to talk about the challenges faced by informal communities and the need for the experiences of these often excluded citizens to contribute to effective climate initiatives and urban planning.
Philippa and Sheela will discuss the necessity of climate resilience and the work Sheela has been leading in India and 16 other countries to engage with people living informally to develop access to secure housing, basic amenities and to boost their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Sheela Patel has worked for over 50 years with vulnerable city dwellers and is widely recognised – nationally and internationally – for seeking urgent attention to the issues of urban poverty, housing and infrastructure onto the radar of governments, bilateral and international agencies, foundations and other organisations.
1 billion urban citizens live in informal settlements like slums and shanty towns, vulnerable to the most extreme impacts of climate change - flooding, prolonged drought and unprecedented heatwaves. India is in the eye of this storm — in May 2024, places in northern India, including Delhi, were suffering under temperatures as high as 50C, with those experiencing poverty most affected.
In this episode Philippa Nuttall is joined by Sheela Patel, activist, founding director of the Society for the Promotion of Area Resource Centers and member of The Club of Rome to talk about the challenges faced by informal communities and the need for the experiences of these often excluded citizens to contribute to effective climate initiatives and urban planning.
Philippa and Sheela will discuss the necessity of climate resilience and the work Sheela has been leading in India and 16 other countries to engage with people living informally to develop access to secure housing, basic amenities and to boost their resilience to the impacts of climate change.
Sheela Patel has worked for over 50 years with vulnerable city dwellers and is widely recognised – nationally and internationally – for seeking urgent attention to the issues of urban poverty, housing and infrastructure onto the radar of governments, bilateral and international agencies, foundations and other organisations.
