Poor people in cities suffer more than their fair share of environmental burdens, from the effects of climate change to persistent local health problems due to poor water supplies, sanitation and housing. This is the main finding from research from the International Institute for Environment and Development, based in the UK, which looks at urban health in low- and middle-income countries in relation to local and global environmental issues. The researcher concludes that the cities that can already address the contemporary challenges of enabling urban poor people to acquire land, housing, water and sanitation will adapt more easily. Measures to protect settlements that are likely to flood and measures to reduce vulnerability to increasing water scarcity will be less expensive if they are taken early, before investments are made in inappropriate infrastructures and locations.

[1] ‘Urban environments, wealth and health: shifting burdens and possible responses in low and middle-income nations,’ IIED Human Settlements Discussion Paper Series, Urban Environment 1, IIED: London, by Gordon McGranahan, 2007 (PDF) Full document.

Contact: Gordon McGranahan, IIED, e-mail

Source: id21 Research Highlight: 15 Feb 2008

Tags: urban wash, water-related diseases