India to host conference on disaster resilient infrastructure on April 4-5
More than 90 experts are expected to participate in sessions that will focus on solutions for creating resilient infrastructure, said CDRI director general Amit Prothi
NEW DELHI: Experts from around the world will gather for a conference in India next month to discuss how technology for disaster resilient infrastructure can be scaled up and shared with countries, especially those vulnerable to the impact of climate change and extreme weather.
The fifth edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure will be hosted by the India-led Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) during April 4-5. More than 90 experts are expected to participate in sessions that will focus on solutions for creating resilient infrastructure.
The conference is being held in a hybrid format and representatives from more countries and multilateral bodies are set to participate virtually, the organisers said on Thursday. The conference will include panel discussions, case studies and stakeholder engagements, and updates on the Biennial Report on Global Infrastructure Resilience and Infrastructure for Resilient Island States.
The members of CDRI, launched at the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019, include 31 countries, six multilateral organisations and two private sector bodies. The theme for the conference, “Delivering resilient and inclusive infrastructure”, will be drive by three pillars, including resilient infrastructure assets, risk-informed systems and financing and investment for infrastructure resilience.
The conference will emphasise the need to integrate resilience into infrastructure and ensure access, delivery and continuity of essential services to people and communities facing increasing exposure and impact of disasters and extreme climatic events.
The conference will also focus on exploring and identifying solutions and actions for mainstreaming resilience into policies, processes and practices.
CDRI director general Amit Prothi told reporters the conference will bring together more than 90 experts and focus on “helping scale up potential solutions for a more resilient world and facilitating disaster and climate adaptation objectives”.
Kamal Kishore, member secretary of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and co-chair of CDRI’s executive committee, said efforts were moving from understanding problems to identifying solutions, while Veena Reddy, mission director for USAID India and the US co-chair of the executive committee, said the infrastructure the world’s population relies on for health, energy, travel and communications is “highly vulnerable” to natural hazards and climate change.
David Puig, ambassador of the Dominican Republic, said CDRI’s work is very relevant for small island developing states (SIDS), which contribute the least to climate change but are most at risk from rising sea levels.
CDRI has received 50 expressions of interest from 28 island countries under its Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS) programme that is aimed at providing technical support to build resilient and sustainable infrastructure. CDRI plans to clear about 12 projects under this initiative by the third quarter of 2023.
