Governing with Care: Addressing Local Challenges of Informality in the Context of Climate Change

Abstract

This article explores the intersection of urban informality and climate change through the lens of Care-centred governance. Drawing on grounded experiences from Córdoba, Argentina, and Nakuru County, Kenya, as well as insights from international networks including United Cities and Local Governments, Cities Alliance and Slum Dwellers International, the article argues that informal settlements are not merely sites of vulnerability but also spaces of innovation, resilience and political agency. By reframing informality as a structural and permanent condition of urbanisation, the study highlights how Care, understood as both a policy framework and a political ethic, can guide more inclusive, equitable climate responses. The article analyses how community-led Care systems, particularly those driven by women and marginalised groups, offer scalable models for adaptation in fragile urban contexts. It further examines how global climate frameworks, particularly the emerging loss and damage agenda, can better incorporate informal settlements by acknowledging their double exposure to climate risks and institutional neglect. Ultimately, the article calls for a multilevel governance approach that empowers local governments and communities to co-produce solutions rooted in dignity, solidarity and sustainability.