Session Annotation  

The inaugural session of ICDRI 2022 will bring together Heads of Government from CDRI Member Countries to share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for building the climate and disaster resilience of transitioning infrastructure systems. The session will focus on processes through which countries can collectively strengthen and accelerate the achievement of the shared goal of climate and disaster resilient infrastructure. 

Session Overview 

The need for resilient infrastructure systems will further intensify in a world that is currently witnessing several global transitions. The changing demand for energy, transport, housing, health, education, and telecom will lead to associated infrastructure needs with their own set of complex challenges and opportunities. Ageing infrastructure in advanced economies, rapid urbanisation and growth in developing countries, and an overall focus on the transition to low-carbon development will further drive the integration of resilience in infrastructure systems. Addressing the challenges of climate change will require planning, delivery, financing, operation, and management of infrastructure to evolve and prepare for the exacerbated impacts and vulnerabilities. Climate and disaster resilient infrastructure can also play a crucial role in building back better from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Resilience of transitioning infrastructure systems can therefore support the achievement of global climate and sustainability agendas such as Paris Agreement, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR). Ensuring that the investments in new and existing infrastructure effectively integrate disaster and climate resilience will be instrumental to realizing 1.5°C, achieving net zero targets, and climate adaptation for the most vulnerable.  

Integrating resilience in infrastructure development demands a multidimensional and inclusive approach, by including stakeholders at the local, national, regional, and global levels. Mainstreaming disaster and climate resilient low carbon development would require a policy shift, leveraging innovative technologies, exploring opportunities for nature-based solutions, and sustainable financing. Infrastructure is inherently people-centered, hence human-centred design will play a vital role in sustainability and building back better. 

The inaugural session of ICDRI 2022 will bring together Heads of Governments from CDRI Member Countries to share their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for building the climate and disaster resilience of transitioning infrastructure systems. This high-level endorsement of the need for climate and disaster resilience in a transitioning world, will encourage greater cooperation between CDRI Member Countries, and enhance commitments towards addressing climate adaptation of infrastructure, and disaster risk reduction, including increased financing and technological collaboration. The session will also focus on processes through which countries can collectively strengthen and accelerate the achievement of the shared goal of climate and disaster resilient infrastructure.  

The inaugural session will provide context for ICDRI 2022 and highlight the need for countries to come together and work towards DRI through clear action points for governments at all levels, researchers, and national and multinational institutions.  

The Heads of Governments will share their vision on: 

• achieving global climate adaptation and sustainability goals and commitments 
• enabling ecosystem for people-centric, climate and disaster resilient infrastructure transition 
• cooperation and collective action towards a climate and disaster resilient, renewable, and sustainable future.