RCHI team member, Zachary Lamb, wrote the article “Transforming Dhaka into a More Equitable City” for the Dhaka Tribune. The author begins by framing the idea of transformative adaptation as a way of adapting to climate change through projects that, instead of adding to the inequalities of cities, strive to reduce or eliminate them. The essay sets out principles for advancing transformative adaptation in Dhaka: 1) Transformative adaptation is not limited to formal planning processes, 2) Adaptation context matters: One-size fits all solutions and ‘global city’ ambitions harm the poor, 3) Adaptation politics will be messy and contentious, but the open debate is essential, 4) Adaptation planners should manage private sector investment in adaptation.

Read the full essay here

About the author:

Prof. Zachary Lamb is an Assistant Professor of City and Regional Planning at UC Berkeley. Prior to this he was a Lecturer in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning. His work focuses broadly on the intersection of public policy, design, and environmental change. He completed his PhD at MIT in 2018 and held a Mellon postdoctoral fellowship at Princeton during 2018-2019. His dissertation research examined the evolving spatial and design politics of flood infrastructure in the delta cities of New Orleans and Dhaka, Bangladesh. He is also co-founder and principle of Crookedworks, a research and design firm whose work was featured in the 2012 Venice Architecture Biennale and has received wide recognition, including awards from AIA New Orleans, AIA Western Massachusetts, and the Animal Architecture Awards. Prior to completing his doctoral studies, Zach received a Master of Architecture degree from MIT and a Bachelors of Arts degree in art history, architectural history, and environmental studies from Williams College. His previous work has included environmental policy analysis, green building and design, design-build education, energy efficiency, climate change adaptation, affordable housing, and post-disaster community development.