Discussing the importance of building climate resilient infrastructure in LMICs

Some of the most climate vulnerable countries have not only suffered the worst climate change impacts, but have also taken giant leaps in strengthening their preparedness against climate shocks. This is especially true for low- and middle-income countries, where rapid urbanisation demands swift action to protect an expanding population. These countries face the challenge of providing adequate basic services and infrastructure to support the growing population and number of cities.

India’s National Institute for Disaster Management (NIDM) is launching a Policy Document on climate change and disaster management for the Government of India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change. The book, presented at COP24, is bringing together various insights relating to climate issues by engaging different experts in the climate change field to inform policy debate at a national level.

As one of the contributing authors, Dr Divya Sharma, who leads our Urban Policy and Planning team, is tackling the issues around building climate resilient infrastructure. In her chapter ‘Climate Resilient Infrastructure in Developing Countries’, she highlights the need to support the development of safe and resilient economies, which will be able to withstand external shocks and adequately support the ever growing population living in the cities.

In the video below Divya presents some of the key messages from her paper:

In Asia alone, more than one billion people are expected to move to cities within the next 30 years. While the countries on the continent already invest more than US$ 880 billion each year into infrastructure development, their efforts will need to double in the next decade to keep up with the population increase.

Discover our work around urban policy and planning here.

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