The Climate Resilient Infrastructure Report series was first launched in May 2023 in an effort to report progress on the state of climate-resilient infrastructure and showcase best-practice case studies and initiatives from around the world. The series contributes directly to the UNFCCC Race to Resilience campaign, which seeks to catalyse action by nonstate actors to build the resilience of 4 billion people from vulnerable groups and communities to climate risks by 2030.

We are excited to share the fourth issue of the Climate Resilient Infrastructure (CRI) report, in partnership with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). You can read more about the series here.

Launched today at COP30, Issue 4, A Focus on Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI), illustrates how GEDSI is critical to the development of sustainable and resilient infrastructure. It frames the need for better integration of GEDSI throughout the infrastructure lifecycle and explores disaster risk reduction and resilience for infrastructure through a GEDSI lens. 

Explore the report:

The report showcases over 40 case studies that embed GEDSI principles throughout the infrastructure lifecycle, from inclusive planning and co-design with women, youth, and persons with disabilities to accessible procurement, construction practices, and GEDSI-responsive operations and maintenance. Through this myriad of contributions, the work highlighted in this report has contributed to building the resilience of over 36 million people worldwide.

Often considered an optional extra – or not considered at all – GEDSI principles are critical for delivering safe, accessible and just infrastructure that meets the needs of those it serves. As marginalised groups continue to bear the greatest burden of climate impacts, infrastructure practitioners and policymakers have a duty to ensure that the voices of these groups are heard, that their lived experiences are understood, and that their quality of life is improved as a result of thoughtful, considered infrastructure development. 

For too long, infrastructure has been designed for communities rather than with them. The examples in this report highlight the multitude of benefits that come with genuine community engagement. The voices of women, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, and all other marginalised groups can help to shape the decisions that affect their lives, informing and inspiring infrastructure practitioners to develop solutions that meet community needs while improving climate resilience.

This approach is not just a ‘nice-to-have’ – it can be life-saving, particularly in times of disaster. It ensures that everyone can access safe evacuation routes, that shelters are safe spaces that don’t compound vulnerabilities, and that early warning systems reach everybody. Mainstreaming GEDSI considerations into infrastructure planning ensures that these fundamental, practical outcomes can be achieved.

Delivering on this vision requires building institutional capacity and forging strong partnerships across sectors. The private sector, governments, NGOs, and community organisations must work together to design and deliver infrastructure that reflects local contexts and uplifts both natural and social environments. By doing so, we can foster a culture of decision-making that is inclusive, informed, and responsive to the needs of all people in the face of a changing climate.

This approach aligns closely with both the Sharm El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda and the Race to Resilience campaign, which call for people-centred, locally-led action that protects those most vulnerable to climate change. 

By spotlighting real-world solutions, we hope to show what can be achieved when engineers build infrastructure that works for everyone; infrastructure that is equitable, sustainable, and resilient by design. 

Savina Carluccio 

Executive Director, International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure

In her Foreword, Ranjini Mukherjee, Director of Research, Knowledge Management, and Capacity Development, and Amit Prothi, Director General, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure wrote:

“CDRI is pleased to partner with ICSI for this report that strives to advance the global dialogue on inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure, guiding governments and partners in integrating diversity and inclusion into policy, planning, and investment. As the world faces the cascading impacts of climate change and disasters, our shared task is clear: to create infrastructure that is not only resilient and sustainable, but also responsive to the needs of all.“

Asma Jhina, Senior Advisor – Urban Climate Finance and Inclusive Action at the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, said:

“Climate risks are not gender neutral, nor do they affect all communities equally. As cities worldwide face the increasing impacts of climate change, it is important to recognise that social inequities, economic disparities, and systemic exclusion influence how different groups experience and recover from climate hazards.”

Global Ambassador of the Race to Resilience said:

Sheela Patel, Global Ambassador of the Race to Resilience said:

“Placing people at the centre of resilience means utilising a GEDSI lens, and this report highlights how inclusive approaches not only safeguard lives and livelihoods but also unlock the creativity, wisdom, and leadership of communities themselves.“

Contributors to the report include Bridges to Prosperity, Bentley Systems, Build Change, The Commonwealth, Global Center on Adaptation, the Global Disability Innovation Hub, Haskoning, Jacobs, Mahila Housing Trust, UNOPS, UNDRR, UNICEF and many more.