Co-Planning of Climate Adaptation and Just Transition Strategies for Waste Pickers in Brazil

Climate change poses major challenges to informal workers, the people who generate income outside formal employment relations and who represent a large part of the world's workforce, particularly in the Global South. Informal workers are vulnerable to the effects of climate change (Smith et al. 2019), yet they are not adequately involved in developing strategies to address/mitigate/adapt to it thus the transition to a low carbon economy has the potential to replicate these vulnerabilities. In this context, a just transition to a low-carbon economy must incorporate inclusive policies that ensure the protection of informal workers, not only by creating new green jobs, but also by adapting the working conditions they currently perform (Newell, Mulvaney, 2020). Studies show that the role of waste pickers, one example of informal workers, in mitigating GHG emissions is undeniable, contributing to the efficient use of natural resources and reducing the carbon footprint of cities, but they are also one of the most vulnerable groups affected by climate change (Kain et al., 2022; ANCAT, 2022; Vergara et al., 2016; King & Gutberlet, 2013).

This research is grounded in climate justice and just transition from a decolonial and intersectional perspective. From this grounding the proposed research will explore how the lived experiences and knowledge of waste pickers can be appropriately valued and recognized in the development of climate adaptation and just transition strategies. Fieldwork will happen in São Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil, where the project team has well established networks. Community-based participatory research will follow 5 steps for data gathering: (1) systematic literature review, (2) team building (recognizing the participant observation and knowledge accumulation of waste pickers), (3) participatory mapping workshops, (4) focus group discussions, and (5) individual interviews. The mapping workshops will identify key climate risks/vulnerabilities of waste pickers. The focus groups and interviews will build on these findings and identify possible strategies for waste pickers to achieve just transition situation. Through effective communication among the team and with the researched community results will be validated and disseminated.