Climate change and vulnerable groups in Cairo: Status quo and prospect low tech solutions

Climate change is now affecting every country on every continent. The most vulnerable to climate change are people in deprived areas with limited access to basic infrastructure. A one year exploratory and investigative action research study was carried out in Cairo in one of the historic neighborhoods that is now a mix of slums and poor-quality social housing. Walking interviews with local inhabitants supported by filed observations were the main tools used in this study supported by photo documentation and field notes for the main problems in the area. Also, locals’ adaptive solutions were discussed during the interviews and were noted during the site walks. After the investigative phase the site data were analyzed and synthesized to lay hands on the main problems with local comfort within their neighborhoods and inside their buildings specially in summer time. Some low-tech solutions were proposed and tested in small test cubes on one of the roof tops in the neighborhood. The test cubes were monitored for two weeks to test the thermal performance of the proposed solutions for reducing heat gains from façades and roofs. 8 cost efficient solutions were tried out from local recycled materials that can be found easily at almost no cost in the neighborhood. The 8 solutions were compared to each other to evaluate their efficiency and durability as well. The paper will discuss the outcome of the interviews and will shed lights on locals’ adaptive solutions to the gradual rise in temperature given the poor urban and building quality in their neighborhoods. In addition, the paper will show the outcome of the 8 test cells as a mitigation strategy and locals preference for the proposed solutions. There is evidence for climate change that can’t be denied and there are clear causes which have sever effects on our planet. Hopefully this research will contribute with some temporary solutions and pave the road for more actions to take.