Relocated in the Name of Climate Resilience : A case study of relocation of informal settlements due to flood mitigation projects in Colombo

Sammanfattning

This thesis studies the flood mitigation infrastructure within the Metro Colombo Urban Development Project (MCUDP) from a human geography perspective. Large-scale interventions, such as canal widening, have contributed to the relocation of informal settlements along the Sebastian Canal. This thesis explores whether these relocations can be understood as a form of climate gentrification, and how relocated communities were able to influence the relocation process through community-based organisation and participation. The research methods included GIS mapping, site visits, and interviews with stakeholders ranging from government officials and experts to NGOs and residents. The findings show that the case does not fit a classical or market-led understanding of climate gentrification, but that the relocations can be understood as part of a broader climate gentrification process where flood mitigation infrastructure, urban redevelopment and displacement became connected. The study also finds that the influence of relocated communities was limited, which can be explained by structural factors such as policy framework, power dynamics between the social and technical units within the project, and the limited timeframe of the project. By doing so, the thesis contributes to discussions on how climate adaptation and flood mitigation protect cities from flooding, while raising questions about who has the power to influence these projects.