Climate change adaptation in informal settlements - urban policy responses from Metro Manila, Bangkok, and Hanoi

Urban informality and climate change pose significant challenges for urban planning in rapidly growing cities in the Global South. This study conducts a qualitative content analysis of 45 spatial planning instruments addressing climate adaptation in informal settlements across Metro Manila (Philippines), Bangkok (Thailand), and Hanoi (Vietnam). Through a theoretically grounded framework and thematic visualisation, the analysis reveals a predominance of regulatory and moderating planning approaches, alongside uneven integration of climate resilience and social housing strategies. The analysis identifies three key strategies: the formal recognition of marginalised groups, a legally mandated central institution to advocate for these communities, and state-supported social housing to mitigate disaster risk and enhance adaptive capacity. By bridging urban planning, climate adaptation, and social policy, the study cautions against neoliberal urban renewal trajectories and advocates for planning paradigms that foster equitable and climate-resilient urban futures for informal settlers.