Journal Menu
By: Gourav Kumar Sharma
Corporate Lawyer, Infinity Services (Founder), An Accounts Outsourcing Firm, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
Climate change poses a significant threat to housing infrastructure worldwide, necessitating the implementation of legal frameworks that promote climate-resilient housing. This study explores global and national perspectives on legal mechanisms designed to ensure housing durability against extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and other climate-related risks. At the global level, international agreements, such as the Paris Agreement, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 11) provide policy directives for integrating resilience into housing laws. Organizations like the UNFCCC, IPCC, and World Bank play a crucial role in guiding and financing climate-adaptive housing initiatives. National governments have developed building codes, zoning regulations, and financial incentives to enhance resilience, with countries like Japan, the Netherlands, and the United States implementing stringent laws to mitigate climate risks. In contrast, developing nations face challenges, such as weak enforcement, financial limitations, and socioeconomic disparities, hindering the widespread adoption of resilient housing policies. This study highlights key case studies from India, examining initiatives in Odisha, Gujarat, and Kerala that promote disaster-resistant housing. To strengthen legal frameworks, governments must update building codes, improve enforcement, provide financial incentives, and enhance public awareness. Stronger legal mechanisms, international cooperation, and community participation are essential for fostering sustainable, climate-resilient housing that protects vulnerable populations from escalating climate risks.
Keywords:Disaster Risk Reduction, climate-resilient housing, sustainable urban planning, housing infrastructure, energy-efficient
Citation:
Refrences:
- van der Berg A, Verschuuren J. Introduction to climate resilient cities and the law. In: Urban Climate Resilience. Northampton, MA, USA: Edward Elgar Publishing; 2022. p. 1–19.
- ICLEI Africa. A guide to collaborative multi-level governance for climate resilient development Cape Town. South Africa: ICLEI Africa; 2021.
- Mitchell D, Enemark S, Van der Molen P. Climate resilient urban development: Why responsible land governance is important. Land Use Policy. 2015;48:190–198.
- Anh TT, Phong TVG, Mulenga M. Community consultation for climate resilient housing: A comparative case study in Vietnam. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2014;10:201–212.
- Kim Y, Smith JB, Mack C, Cook J, Furlow J, Njinga JL, et al. A perspective on climate-resilient development and national adaptation planning based on USAID’s experience. Clim Dev. 2017;9(2):141–151.
- Boyle J, Harris M, Bizikova L, Parry JE, Hammill A, Dion J. Exploring trends in low-carbon, climate-resilient development. International Institute for Sustainable Development; 2014.
- Bazbauers AR. Sustainable, green, and climate-resilient cities: an analysis of multilateral development banks. Clim Dev. 2022;14(8):689–704.
- Charoenkit S, Kumar S. Environmental sustainability assessment tools for low carbon and climate resilient low income housing settlements. Renew Sustain Energy Rev. 2014;38:509–525.
- Pauw WP, König M, Sadikhova K, Stutzmann T. Financing low-carbon and climate resilient development: Do countries integrate Article 2.1 (c) of the Paris Agreement in their long-term strategies? 2021.
- McEvoy D, Mitchell D. Climate resilient land governance in the global south. In: The Routledge Companion to Environmental Planning. New York, USA: Routledge; 2019. 225–237.
- Stamatopoulos E, Forouli A, Stoian D, Kouloukakis P, Sarmas E, Marinakis V. An adaptive framework for assessing climate resilience in buildings. Build Environ. 2024;264:111869.
- World Health Organization. Operational framework for building climate resilient health systems. World Health Organization; 2015.