Investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure is crucial to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. A resolution on sustainable and resilient infrastructure, adopted at the UN Environment Assembly, encourages Member States to integrate environmental considerations in all their infrastructure plans, to develop and strengthen national and regional systems-level strategic approaches to infrastructure planning, to promote nature-based solutions, and to encourage the United Nations Environment Programme to support countries in building the technical and institutional capacity to develop sustainable infrastructure.

Sustainable Infrastructure at the UN Environment Assembly

Planning, designing, constructing, operating, and decommissioning a Sustainable infrastructure system ensures economic and financial viability, social viability, environmental viability (including climate resilience), and institutional viability over the entire infrastructure life cycle. In addition to built infrastructure, sustainable infrastructure may include natural infrastructure or hybrid infrastructure.

Investing in sustainable and resilient infrastructure is crucial to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), USD 6.9 trillion will be needed annually until 2050 for infrastructure investment to meet development goals and create a low carbon, climate resilient future. According to the Global Infrastructure Hub, there is still a multi-trillion-dollar gap in these investments, and most investments are made into “business as usual” infrastructure.

At the fifth session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), which met in Nairobi in March 2022, Members States adopted a resolution on Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure (UNEA/E.A.5/L.15). This new resolution builds on a 2019 UNEA resolution (UNEP/EA.4/L.5) by encouraging Member States to:

“The United Nations Environment Assembly stressing the importance of the ecosystem approach for the integrated management of land, water and living resources and the need to step up efforts to tackle desertification, land degradation, erosion and drought, biodiversity loss and water scarcity, which are seen as major environmental, economic and social challenges for global sustainable development.“

Rodney Truitt Jr, 2021 © Unsplash

Agenda 2030 and Infrastructure

In 2012, the Rio+20 Conference developed the 2030 Agenda as a shared global vision. It was adopted by UN Member States in 2015 with the inclusion of the seventeen SDGs. Infrastructure – itself a cornerstone component of SDG 9: industry, innovation and infrastructure – underpins many of the SDGs.

By 2030, infrastructure and industries must be more resource-efficient and adopt clean and environmentally sound technologies. Goal 9 seeks to support technology development, research, and innovation, as well as increase the access of small-scale industrial and other companies to financial services including affordable credit, and increase their integration into value chains and markets. Furthermore, it advocates providing universal and affordable internet access to the world’s least developed countries.

The Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership 

The Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) was launched in 2018 to promote and support integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure planning and development. SIP recognizes the central role infrastructure plays in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. SIP considers how different infrastructure systems, sectors, phases, and governance structures interact through an interdependent lens. A comprehensive approach to infrastructure development can be helpful to deliver optimal social, environmental, and economic outcomes. Read more →

Three core goals:

  • Raise awareness about the centrality of infrastructure for the 2030 Agenda.
  • Develop and share new and existing normative and technical guidance and tools for integrating sustainability into infrastructure planning, investment, and delivery.
  • Strengthen the technical and institutional capacity of developing countries to adopt and apply integrated approaches to infrastructure development, as a means of achieving the SDGs.

Infrastructure investment is a key tool for improving productivity, stimulating economic growth, generating decent jobs, addressing inequalities and building resilience,

But infrastructure will only deliver on these objectives if sustainability is embedded at its core – increasing society’s resilience while reducing climate risk. A business-as-usual approach to infrastructure would lock in carbon-intensive, unsustainable development and would deal a fatal blow to the aim of Member States to limit warming to 1.5°C.

-writes Mr. Guterres.

International Good Practice Principles for Integrated Approaches

Launched in 2022, the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure have been developed as part of the implementation of United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) Resolution 4/5 on sustainable infrastructure (UNEP/EA.4/ Res.5), and are reflected in the subsequent UNEA Resolution 5/9 on sustainable and resilient infrastructure (UNEP/EA.5/Res.9).

Economies, societies, and the environment are interconnected by different types of infrastructure systems. Investing in infrastructure that contributes to the SDGs requires integrating sustainability into the earliest stages of infrastructure planning in a way that takes into account the interconnections between infrastructure systems and sectors, their locations, governance frameworks, and sustainable development throughout the entire infrastructure life cycle. The integrated, systems-level approach can increase governments’ ability to meet service needs more efficiently, pollute less, and be more resilient, more cost-effective, and less risky than “business as usual.”

By concentrating upstream of the project level and summarizing good practice for sustainable infrastructure policies, planning, preparation and delivery, the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure complement existing materials. The Sustainable Development Goals require an enabling environment for sustainable infrastructure that supports their achievement.
Governments can take actions based on these principles. The public sector creates the enabling environment for sustainable infrastructure, and identifies and overcomes barriers to its implementation. Infrastructure investment will continue on an unsustainable path without proper institutions and policies. Public and private sectors can both be sponsors or investors in infrastructure development. Read more →

Guiding Principles

Following is a list of guiding principles relating to the sustainable infrastructure provided by the UNEP report.

 

Ezra, 2018 © Unsplash

The Role of Geneva

Organizations are listed in alphabetical order.

Green Growth Knowledge Platform

In 2018, the Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership (SIP) was launched to promote and support integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure planning and development. SIP recognizes the centrality of infrastructure to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This approach can help deliver optimal social, environmental, and economic outcomes of infrastructure development.

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

In addition to promoting environmentally sustainable practices in communities, IFRC offices are actively reducing their own carbon emissions. The World Disasters Report 2020 highlighted how climate change is already devastating lives and livelihoods, and they will only get worse unless immediate and determined action is taken. A review of climate disaster trends is presented in the World Disasters Report 2020, which also offers recommendations for addressing the humanitarian impacts of the climate crisis.

International Institute for Sustainable Development

IISD provides research and advisory services on infrastructure and project finance and helps policy-makers and their many stakeholders understand the technical dynamics associated with investments in both large and small projects and develop their skills in managing infrastructure and project financing.

IISD also focuses on natural infrastructure, defined as an area or system that is either naturally occurring or naturalized and then intentionally managed to provide multiple benefits or “ecosystem services” for the environment and human well-being. Read more →

International Labour Organization

Founded on the belief that social justice is essential to achieving universal and lasting peace, ILO promotes strong social policies, justice and democratic institutions to ensure equity, social progress, and poverty eradication, whereas economic growth is indispensable but not sufficient. The ILO emphasizes the role that the World of Work can play in achieving a variety of Sustainable Development Goals.

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

IISD provides research and advisory services on infrastructure and project finance.  The Institute helps policy-makers and stakeholders develop their skills in managing project and infrastructure finance. IISD also focuses on natural infrastructure.

International Union for Conservation of Nature

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. Since January 2012, IUCN is a member of the research project URBES (Urban Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) which aims to inform urban management and decision-makers on how to best integrate the natural environment and human needs. 

IUCN has focused on natural infrastructure solutions since 2012, of which water is a key component, as part of The Nexus Dialogue on Water Infrastructure Solutions. The objective has been to identify how multisectoral solutions are, or could be provided through infrastructure and other means, including new technologies and investments in ecosystem services.

Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE)

The Partnership for Action on Green Economy represents a mechanism to coordinate UN action on green economy and to assist countries in achieving and monitoring the emerging Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.

As a result of UNIDO’s contribution, PAGE is supporting governments and industry in the implementation of the SDG 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 7 on Affordable, Reliable and Modern Energy, and SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production.

State of Geneva

The State of Geneva promotes a balanced and sustainable development for Geneva and its region, which protects the planet and the well-being of future generations. The State collaborates with municipal authorities within its territory and across the border for a shared vision of the “Grand Genève” and socio-ecological infrastructure solutions.

Swiss Federal Office for the Environment

Switzerland supports sustainable infrastructure in developing countries with USD 75 million. Switzerland’s support allows to provide a coordinated, powerful response with other like-minded donors to the challenges of sustainable infrastructure in developing countries. Switzerland’s contribution comes from the Development Cooperation framework credit in accordance with the Federal Decree of 21 September 2020.

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development

In 1964, when UNCTAD was created, the risk of ecological disaster was hardly on the international agenda. Today, at the fifteenth session of the Conference, the grave threat of climate change, and the immense challenge of biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, have become key challenges for sustainable development.

The transformation to a climate resilient and more sustainable economy requires decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation and greenhouse gas emissions. For developing countries to achieve this, capacity-building and investment will be needed to build enabling infrastructures, develop human capital skills, and adopt environment-friendly technologies. In addition to rationalizing and phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies that encourage wasteful consumption, while providing targeted support for the poorest, a sustainable energy transition must be promoted.

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is working jointly with ITU to develop a definition of and a global standard for smart sustainable cities. The UNECE approach takes a city through a full cycle from city evaluation as Sustainable and Smart, to recommendations on how to move it forward in this area, to supporting the innovative financing and investments to concrete city projects. UNECE is also one of the core coordinators of the U4SSC initiative.

United Nations Environment Management Group

The UN Environment Management Group established a Consultative Process on Sustainable Infrastructure. The Process seeks to strengthen the coordination of UN-system support to Member States in this area of work. It is led by UNEP, and its Terms of Reference can be found here; the year two supplement is available here.

United Nations Environment Programme Resources and Markets Branch

The Sustainable Infrastructure Partnership  was launched by UNEP in 2018. The Partnership offers a platform to promote and support integrated approaches to sustainable infrastructure planning and development.

The International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure have been developed as part of the implementation of United Nations Environment Assembly Resolution 4/5 on sustainable infrastructure (UNEP/EA.4/ Res.5) by the UN Environment Programme.

UN-Habitat Geneva Office

UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. While UN-Habitat’s headquarters are in Nairobi, Kenya, the Geneva Liaison Office manages and leads UN-Habitat’s policy dialogue, partnerships and collaborative programmes with the large number of humanitarian and development agencies and NGOs located in the international hub city of Geneva.

The rapid urbanization as well as the gradual increase in living standards have led to a demand for services and infrastructure construction. Since infrastructure is intrinsically linked to every aspect of urban life, improving infrastructure should ideally improve individual or community resilience. UN-Habitat explores the intrinsic link between infrastructure and resilience.

World Business Council for Sustainable Development

WBCSD is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. WBCSD offers a space for interactions between cities, businesses and citizens to engage with each other, build a common vision and develop suitable innovative solutions. In the area of urban mobility, WBCSD also develops tools, guidance, and policy recommendations to transform the transport sector.

WWF

New infrastructure development is essential for meeting the food, water and energy needs of a growing global population and delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. WWF is promoting innovation for sustainable infrastructure.

WWF and Oliver Wyman released a new report, Incorporating Sustainability into Infrastructure which examines how environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors are being applied in the infrastructure investment process.

 

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