A framework to classify and assess the perceived impact of small-scale resilient and sustainable transformation initiatives in disadvantaged communities

Abstract

Currently, the need to shift humanity’s course away from the destruction of the planet is imperative, and several studies are facing the future of cities and the challenge to rethink them more sustainably. At the same time, humanity is already experiencing the effects of climate change and resource depletion, with consequences not only on the environment but also on the economy and society. The trend in worsening these effects demands actions in order to make cities more resilient. In this context, movements have arisen, frameworks have been developed and applied, and initiatives have been implemented to transform cities worldwide through small-scale interventions that intend to address these challenges. Such interventions are at the local level, consider strong community engagement, and aim to achieve radical change. This research recognises the great relevance of these initiatives and carries out a literature review on some significant examples. From identifying the characteristics of the studied initiatives, the differences between their contexts and the context of vulnerable Brazilian communities, and the scarcity of research addressing the topic and proposing approaches to this context, this research intends to fill this gap. Thus, the research aim was to develop a framework to classify and assess the perceived impact of small-scale resilient and sustainable transformation initiatives suitable for socio-environmentally vulnerable communities in Brazilian municipalities. The research approach adopted was constructive research, or design science research, conducted basically through a literature review, a practical application of the framework and a seminar for evaluation. The object of the empirical study was the community of Morro da Cruz, a neighbourhood in the city of Porto Alegre, where the practical application was carried out. As a more comprehensive conclusion, the results showed that, for communities in a state of socioeconomic vulnerability, environmental concerns must be part of a strategy that integrates the confrontation of environmental issues with the economic, social and cultural dimensions of sustainability. The economic vulnerability of the community, for example, played a decisive role in defining the level of interest of residents concerning the initiatives presented as potentially applicable to their reality. As the deployment of the activities developed throughout the research, a tool was proposed and designed to centralise information about dispersed initiatives in the city of Porto Alegre and to serve as a dynamic database, enabling consultation and updating of initiatives. Connecting initiatives with each other and with the population, allowing for sharing experiences, exchanging information and learning from each other, was identified as a fundamental issue in the initial process of implementing the smallscale resilient and sustainable transformation initiatives.