Climate compatible development in the infrastructure sector: an overview of the opportunities and challenges at the nexus of climate change, infrastructure and development
This report focuses at climate change because it is recognised as one of the most significant threats to development during the 21st Century and beyond. Infrastructure and the engineering profession have a crucial role to play in efforts to reduce emissions in order to stabilise global warming, and to adapt to the climatic changes that have become inevitable.
Given the high stakes and the urgency of action, it could not be more important at the current time to gain an improved understanding of the challenges and opportunities at the nexus of climate change, infrastructure and development. That is the aim of this report, approached through the following objectives: i) describe the transformation required in the infrastructure sector, ii) identify the key challenges to achieving this transition iii) explore potential developmental opportunities associated with international and national efforts at mitigation and how they can be realised, iv) identify approaches to maximising the developmental outcomes of adaptation investment in the infrastructure sector, v) analyse climate-related infrastructure funding flows from donors and the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), vi) develop an improved understanding of the reality of climate change policy development in the infrastructure sector and vii) draw conclusions and make recommendations based on the above, and identify priority areas for further study.
The report structure reflects these seven objectives, preceded by a brief introductory section covering some fundamental concepts around climate change and the relationship between climate change and development.