Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

• 23 Mar 2021

Why in News

Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the opening ceremony of International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) through video conference.

• ICDRI is the annual international conference of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) in partnership with member countries, organizations and institutions to strengthen the global discourse on disaster and climate resilient infrastructure.

Key Points

• About:
  
  • The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN agencies and programmes, multilateral development banks and financing mechanisms, the private sector, and knowledge institutions.
    
    • The Prime Minister of India launched CDRI during his speech at the UN Climate Action Summit on 23^rd September 2019.
  • It aims to promote the resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks in support of sustainable development.
  • Members: 22 countries and 7 organisations.
  • Thematic Areas: Governance and Policy, Risk Identification and Estimation, Standards and Certification, Capacity building, Innovation & Emerging Technology, Recovery and Reconstruction, Finance and Community based approaches.
  • The CDRI Secretariat is based in New Delhi, India.
• Need:
  
  • The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) highlights the role of improved disaster resilience of infrastructure as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
  • The SFDRR includes four specific targets related to loss reduction:
    
    1. Reduce global disaster mortality;
    2. Reduce the number of affected people;
    3. Reduce direct disaster economic loss; and
    4. Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure.
  • Target (4) on infrastructure is an important prerequisite to achieving the other loss reduction targets set out in the framework.
  • Between 2016 and 2040, the global annual infrastructure investment needs are estimated at USD 3.7 trillion per year. Thus, there is a clear case for ensuring that all future infrastructure systems are resilient in the face of disasters in order to protect our investments.
• Significance for India:
  
  • Provide a platform for India to emerge as a global leader on climate Action and Disaster Resilience.
    
    • CDRI boosts India's soft power, but more importantly it has wider connotation than just economics, as synergy between disaster risk reduction, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Climate Accord provides for sustainable and inclusive growth.
  • Complement the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
  • Facilitate India’s support to resilient infrastructure in Africa, Asia, etc.
  • Provide access to knowledge, technology and capacity development for infra developers.
  • Create opportunities for Indian infrastructure & technology firms to expand services abroad.

Source: PIB