International Forum on Sustainable Infrastructure: Integrating Climate Resilience and Natural Capital into Transport Infrastructure Planning and Design

Ha Noi, Viet Nam 16 to 17 May 2017

A forum for decision makers and experts to deliberate and draft guiding principles for planning, designing and financing climate-resilient and ecologically sound transport infrastructure.

The Key Issues

The pace of global infrastructure investment is accelerating dramatically. For transport infrastructure alone, 25 million kilometers of roads will be added by 2050 – with 90% in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In the Asia-Pacific region this translates to about $8.3 trillion dollars of transport infrastructure investments projected between 2016 and 2030. 

This connective transport infrastructure, as well as other forms of ‘linear’ infrastructure such as energy networks and water supply systems – move people, goods, water and power and are essential for an efficient functioning economy. 

But, how can we ensure that the quality and viability of this infrastructure is secure over the long term? Linear infrastructure plans and sustainability cannot be at cross purposes, as environmental degradation and climate impacts will lead to costly bottlenecks, delays and project cancellations – increasing risk and decreasing ‘bankability’ of investments.

In addition, most nations have agreed on targets for sustainability through their commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. These include the need for resilient, ‘low carbon’ and ecologically sensitive infrastructure that will not erode the welfare of current and future generations, or the productivity and stability of the planet’s natural systems. 

The Five Forum Themes

These themes will support the preparation of “guiding principles” for integrating climate resilience and natural capital into transport planning, design and finance.

1. Designing ecologically sensitive transport infrastructure: Capitalizing on opportunities and addressing constraints generated by biodiversity and ecosystem services.
2. Integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change: Assessing risks and benefits, resilient and low-carbon approaches, and the use of natural infrastructure.
3. Facilitating finance: De-risking and promoting climate-friendly, environmentally sustainable and ‘bankable’ projects to attract institutional investors.
4. Improving options with better planning: Integrating natural capital and climate into spatial and strategic planning to increase opportunities for multiple benefits.
5. Strengthening the enabling environment: Policies, laws and regulations to reduce environmental risks and increase incentives for sustainable infrastructure investing.  

Organizers

The forum is co-organized by the Asian Development Bank, the World Wildlife Fund, the Viet Nam Institute of Strategy and Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, and the Greater Mekong Subregion Environment Operations Center. 

Forum materials including the application form, the agenda, and workshop presentations will be uploaded to this page when available.