Resilient Infrastructure Planning – from Research to Practice

Abstract/Description

Mountain regions are at the crossroads of accelerated climate change and the livelihoods of large and varied populations that rely on them, either directly or indirectly. Mountain settlements and people are widely distributed across the globe and constitute a significant portion of the world’s population vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Climate- and weather-related disasters, such as landslides, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), floods, and wildfires have become more frequent over the past three decades. Seismic events such as earthquakes compound the risks to people, infrastructure, and economies in both mountain and further downstream areas. Physical structures and networks that provide basic and indispensable services, such as health and educational facilities, are of paramount importance for managing disaster risk. However, in mountainous terrain, the resilience of critical infrastructure is further challenged by remoteness, difficult terrain, inadequate adherence to reconstruction standards, and limited capacity for building, operating, and maintaining resilient infrastructure. At UNFCCC COP 29, CDRI (Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure) announced the Mountain Resilience Programme (MRP) to support resilient and people-centric infrastructure systems as a critical enabler in delivering essential services and livelihood opportunities in mountain regions, while also building capacities for risk-informed decision-making and fostering collaborative action on climate and disaster resilience. In line with this, the programme’s publication on disaster resilient infrastructure (DRI) in mountain regions captures voices from mountain communities and actors worldwide, advocates for resilient infrastructure that safeguards lives, livelihoods and nature, and provides an international platform for knowledge sharing, capacity building and innovation in DRI for mountain regions. The publication takes a practice-oriented, participatory approach, highlighting good practices, needs, and challenges, while aiming to elevate the importance of DRI in mountain regions within global frameworks. Additionally, it strengthens the MRP by enabling multi-hazard risk-informed decision-making, building capacity for risk-informed policies, and integrating Indigenous and ecosystem-based approaches for infrastructure development. Furthermore, it reinforces advocacy efforts for DRI in global intergovernmental processes, discussions, and collaborative actions.