O risco climático para a população em situação de rua: impactos do calor no Centro do Rio de Janeiro-RJ

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the climate risk associated with heat for the homeless population in Downtown Rio de Janeiro, based on the three pillars defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: hazard, vulnerability, and exposure. In the first chapter, heat is characterized as a climate hazard through the analysis of historical data from a meteorological station located near the study area, as well as local measurements conducted at six points in the downtown area. The results indicated average temperatures higher than the citywide average, with peaks exceeding 34 °C, especially in areas with heavy vehicle traffic, high building density, and scarce vegetation. The second chapter investigates the processes of vulnerability affecting this population through qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, addressing aspects such as sociodemographic profile, life trajectories, patterns of movement and settlement in the study area, and other factors that may limit their adaptive capacity in the face of climate hazards. Finally, the third chapter also draws on the interviews to examine the impacts of heat exposure, including the worsening of health problems and the adoption of daily protection strategies, such as temporary displacement to thermally milder areas. The findings show that the unequal production of urban space and ongoing processes of vulnerability intensify the risks of exposure for the homeless population, which remain in the downtown area due to the concentration of economic and survival opportunities, even though the area is prone to extreme heat events. It is concluded that heat, as a climate hazard, interacts with this group’s high exposure in ways that heighten their vulnerability, underscoring the need for analyses and public policies on adaptation and protection that take into account the specificities of this population