This article examines the integration of climate-responsive strategies within the urban transformation of Barrio 20, an informal settlement in the southern part of Buenos Aires, Argentina. As part of a broader reurbanization process, efforts to improve housing and infrastructure have also led to environmental and climate challenges, such as increased local temperatures and extreme heat events due to insufficient vegetation and shade. In response, a participatory Urban Lab approach involving the community, government and civil society organizations was adopted to implement nature-based solutions (NbS), enhancing climate resilience, environmental quality and social well-being. This participatory model is being adapted and replicated in Barrio Moreno in Rosario, demonstrating its scalability. Additionally, this article situates Barrio 20’s experience within a comparative analysis of other urban transformations in Latin America, particularly within the framework of the Transformative Urban Coalitions project. Observing similar processes across cities highlights the importance of knowledge exchange, participation in international events and collaborative learning processes for urban sustainability. It also showcases the potential to apply these lessons to evidence-based policymaking in Argentina, emphasizing how local innovations can shape broader governance frameworks to foster more resilient and inclusive cities.
Full text only available in Spanish.