Informal Population and Climate Risk in the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

This article examines the spatial intersection between urban informality and climate risk in the Metropolitan Area of Rio de Janeiro, focusing on the vulnerability of informal populations to flooding, landslides and sea-level rise. Drawing on the most recent census data and spatial analysis, the study employs the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics’ urban concentration framework to assess intra-metropolitan disparities, highlighting the concentration of informal settlements in environmentally fragile zones. The analysis reveals a strong correlation between informal urban occupation and susceptibility to climate-related hazards. Subdistricts with high percentages of informal population also exhibit elevated exposure to floods and landslides, particularly in areas of steep slopes or low-lying coastal zones. By combining empirical data with theoretical perspectives from urban political ecology and environmental justice, the article argues for the centrality of informality in shaping climate adaptation strategies. The study calls for integrated metropolitan governance, spatial justice and participatory planning as essential components of climate resilience in the global South.