International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2023

Context- The Indian Prime Minister emphasized the need for a coordinated response to disasters, stating that in a world with close ties, a disaster in one region can have a significant impact in another.

Key Highlights 

• The PM of India in his video address to the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2023 stated that within a few years, 40 nations had joined the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

What is the CDRI?

• National governments, UN agencies and programs, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions make up the global coalition known as the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
• On September 23, 2019, during his speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit, India’s Prime Minister launched CDRI.
• In support of sustainable development, it aims to boost the resilience of both new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
• Members: 30 nations and 8 organizations
• Areas of Focus:
  • Administration and Strategy,
  • Hazard ID and Assessment,
  • Guidelines and Accreditation,
  • Limit building,
  • Development and Arising Innovation,
  • Recuperation and Reproduction,
  • Money and Local area based approaches.
• The CDRI Secretariat is situated in New Delhi, India.

What distinguishes climate resilient infrastructure (CRI) from disaster resilience infrastructure (DRI)?

• Geophysical and geomorphological hazards like earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic activity are also included in DRI.
• DRI must address risks from low-frequency, high-impact events because infrastructure systems are designed for long life cycles.
• DRI must deal with non-climate-related technological risks like nuclear radiation, dam failures, chemical spills, and explosions.
• More than 90% of disasters are caused by extreme weather and climate events. Therefore, making infrastructure resilient to climate change also contributes to its disaster resilience.
• The reduction of infrastructure’s carbon footprint may be the focus of some CRI initiatives. DRI may result in this, but it does not explicitly address these aspects.

Why is CDRI necessary?

• In the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR), improved infrastructure resilience is emphasized as a key component of sustainable development.
• There are four distinct loss reduction targets included in the SFDRR i.e.
  • decrease global disaster mortality;
  • Reduce the number of people who are affected;
  • Reduce direct economic damage from disasters; and
  • lessen the damage to vital infrastructure caused by disasters.
• The framework’s other loss reduction targets can only be achieved if target (4) on infrastructure is met.
• Global infrastructure investment requirements are estimated to total USD 3.7 trillion annually between 2016 and 2040.
• Therefore, in order to safeguard our investments, it is clearly justified to ensure that all future infrastructure systems are disaster-resistant.
• The provokes looked by island states because of environmental change are a critical focal point of endeavors under the CDRI drive.
• At COP-26, the “Infrastructure for Resilient Island States” initiative was launched.

What Importance Does It Have for India?

• Give a stage to India to arise as a worldwide pioneer on environment Activity and Fiasco Versatility.
• India’s soft power is bolstered by the CDRI, but more importantly, the synergy between disaster risk reduction, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Climate Accord ensures sustainable and inclusive growth.
• Streamline India’s assistance to resilient infrastructure in Africa, Asia, and other regions.
• Facilitate infra developers’ access to knowledge, technology, and capacity building.
• Set out open doors for Indian foundation and innovation firms to extend benefits abroad.

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