The recent International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) highlights the importance of disaster and climate-resilient infrastructure. Hosted by Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), the conference was inaugurated by the Prime Minister via video conference, providing an opportunity to explore how this concept can be integrated into national and international policy frameworks.
Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI): An Overview
CDRI is a multi-stakeholder global partnership consisting of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions. Founded by the Prime Minister of India at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, CDRI aims to enhance the resilience of existing and upcoming infrastructure systems against climate and disaster risks. This is expected to support sustainable development efforts globally. The coalition comprises 22 member countries and seven organizations, with its Secretariat based in New Delhi, India.
Key Areas of Focus
CDRI has identified several thematic areas to guide its initiatives. These include governance and policy, risk identification and estimation, standards and certification, capacity building, innovation & emerging technology, recovery and reconstruction, finance and community-based approaches.
The Imperative for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure
The need for resilient infrastructure is underlined by the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction’s emphasis on improved disaster resilience as crucial for sustainable development. The framework sets four specific targets for loss reduction: reducing global disaster mortality; decreasing the number of affected people; reducing direct disaster economic loss; and minimizing damage to critical infrastructure due to disasters. Target four, focused on infrastructure, is fundamental to achieving the other three loss reduction targets. Considering estimated global infrastructure investment needs amounting to USD 3.7 trillion per year between 2016 and 2040, there is a pressing need to ensure future infrastructure systems are resilient against disasters, thus safeguarding investments.
Significance for India
The CDRI project provides a platform for India to emerge as a global leader on climate change action and disaster resilience. This coalition not only boosts India’s soft power but it also holds implications extending beyond economics. Aligning disaster risk reduction with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Climate Accord paves the way for sustainable and inclusive growth.
CDRI partnerships complement the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and facilitate India’s support towards resilient infrastructure in Africa and Asia. Moreover, it provides access to knowledge, technology, and capacity development for Indian infrastructure developers. Lastly, it creates opportunities for Indian infrastructure & technology firms to expand their services globally.
To summarize, the focus on disaster resilient infrastructure does not just contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth, but it is also an investment protection strategy, given the high financial stakes involved in infrastructure development. The Prime Minister’s recent address at ICDRI reiterates this need and highlights India’s role in the promotion of this critical cause.
