International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

• 09 May 2022

For Prelims: ICDRI, CDRI.

For Mains: Disaster Management.

Why in News?

Recently, the Prime Minister addressed the inaugural session of the fourth edition of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure via video message.

• 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.

What is CDRI?

• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is a multi-stakeholder global partnership of national governments, UN (United Nations) 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: 30 countries and 8 organizations.
• 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.

How is Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (DRI) different from Climate Resilient Infrastructure (CRI)?

• DRI also includes addressing disaster risk due to geophysical and geomorphological hazards such as earthquakes, landslides, tsunami and volcanic activity. Since infrastructure systems are built for long life cycles, it is imperative that DRI addresses risks emanating from such low-frequency high impact events.
• DRI must deal with technological hazards like nuclear radiation, dam failures, chemical spills, explosions which are not directly linked to climate.
• More than 90% of disasters are a manifestation of weather and climate-related extreme events. So, making infrastructure climate-resilient also contributes to making it disaster resilient.
• Some CRI efforts may focus on reducing carbon footprint of Infrastructure. While this may be a byproduct of DRI, DRI does not explicitly address these aspects.

What is the Need for CDRI?

• 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:
  • Reduce global disaster mortality;
  • Reduce the number of affected people;
  • Reduce direct disaster economic loss; and
  • 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.
• The challenges faced by island states due to climate change are a key focus of efforts under the CDRI initiative.
  • Initiative on 'Infrastructure for Resilient Island States' was launched at COP-26.

What is the Initiative on Infrastructure for Resilient Island States?

• India launched this initiative as a part of the CDRI that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects, especially in small island developing states.
• Small Island Developing States or SIDS face the biggest threat from climate change, India’s space agency ISRO will build a special data window for them to provide them with timely information about cyclones, coral-reef monitoring, coast-line monitoring etc. through satellite.

What is its 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