Investing for a resilient tomorrow for all

Asia was the world’s most disaster-hit region in 2023, with floods and storms claiming the highest number of casualties. Recent satellite reports from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) show that glacial lakes in the Himalayas are expanding at a rapid scale, threatening lives of downstream communities. And just last month, parts of India recorded heatwave conditions, with day temperatures exceeding 40 degrees in several places. 

Rising climate-related uncertainty has accelerated calls to invest in financial and human resources to boost disaster resilient infrastructure. 

“Communities that contributed the least to climate change are paying the highest price,” United Nations in India Resident Coordinator Shombi Sharp told the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, which was hosted by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in New Delhi.

Weather extremes have greatly reduced the productivity of the vulnerable, journalist Jayashree Nandi said, as she moderated a high-level discussion on the theme ‘Investing today for a more resilient tomorrow’ at the conference, which brought together representatives from government bodies, the private sector and civil society.

The most important infrastructure for climate change adaptation is infrastructure that has not been built yet, GeoHazards International Chief Operating Officer Dr. Janise Rodgers said during a panel discussion that also featured European Commission DG-INTPA Green Deal and the Digital Agenda Director Carla Montesi, Asian Development Bank Country Director for India Mio Oka and Miyamoto International CEO Dr. Kit Miyamoto. 

“When countries are forced to choose between the right to development and climate mitigation, they will choose development. We must together ensure the two go hand in hand, with resilience and climate justice for all through ample access to finance and technology,” Mr. Sharp said. 

CDRI Director General Amit Prothi lauded UN Women for highlighting the potential role that women play in their communities in responding to disaster, saying: “Adaptation is very local and often affects women a lot more. They may have a better understanding of how to come up with solutions on the ground and we need to look into building capacity”.

Mr. Sharp stressed that the Summit of the Future, to be held at UN Headquarters in New York in September, will be an opportunity for Member States, communities and civil society to come together and contribute inputs about the reforms we need to strengthen multilateralism and partnerships.