Transport infrastructure is one of the drivers of global economic development. It is also one of the main causes of climate change and the decline in biodiversity. Indeed, very heavy investments are currently being made to address this and meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement. However, the impact on biodiversity is much less well-known and understood. Given the heightened global concern over this issue, new regulations and approaches with stricter biodiversity standards are expected in the wake of the negotiation of a new global framework within the Convention on Biological Diversity. Yet given the dearth of research-based guidance on how to address biodiversity concerns through the development of transportation infrastructure, no broad consensus exists on how to create a biodiversity-friendly transportation sector.

At the end of two and a half years of work, under the combined auspices of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the United Nations Environment Programme-led Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP), this seminar will convene diverse national, regional and international high-level actors or stakeholders into an event aiming at engaging in dialogue on the subject of infrastructure and biodiversity.

Major results of the BISON project will be presented on June 6, and then proceeding to a full day dedicated to connections between the results of the BISON project and the wider sustainable infrastructure community.

In collaboration with the SIP and international partners, the 7 June joint seminar will explore ways to feed the research results into policymaking and investment decisions, and to catalyze next steps. It is co-organised as part of the collaboration within the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership as a day of mobilisation of major international stakeholders.

ICSI Executive Director, Savina Carluccio, will be moderating the below panel on this day:

Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership – community of learners, the role of hubs and perspectives | 17:00-18:15

Speakers:

● Lazaros Georgiadis (CERTH)
● Elizabeth Losos (Duke University)
● Rowan Palmer (UNEP)
● Rodney Van der Ree (WSP in Australia & New Zealand)

The event will be in a hybrid format. Click here to read the programme for June 7.