To World Leaders:
Climate resilience must be a global priority
Jan Hartke, Founder of the Stimson Center’s Alliance for a Climate Resilient Earth (ACRE)
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THe full Text of the Declaration
Declaration for Climate Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure
A Global Priority
By 2050 the world’s population is projected to reach 10 billion and there will be 4 times as much infrastructure on the planet as exists today. The world will spend trillions on infrastructure each year, largely in our cities. Infrastructure is the backbone of commerce and affects every person on the planet. It drives national economies, acts as a job- multiplier, and provides basic products and essential services such as, water, food, energy, telecom and transport.
Avoiding Climate-Related Disasters
Greenhouse gas emissions are rising, contributing to multibillion dollar disasters that destroy lives and livelihoods, including homes, buildings, hospitals, schools, ecosystems, and infrastructure. Vulnerable populations, marginalized communities, small islands, and poor countries are hit the hardest. Building climate resilient and sustainable infrastructure is the way to win the Race to Resilience, protect people and nature, and contribute to the Race to Net Zero.
Failure is not an Option
Business as usual for infrastructure projects is a prescription for global catastrophe. The moral consequences of failure are unacceptable. In all geographies around the world, we need to raise infrastructure so it can withstand climate disasters and ensure that communities thrive. To make this happen, we need to have the people who plan, design, construct, and operate the infrastructure apply higher standards, codes and guidelines to build the future we want.
Achieving the Vision of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals
The nationally determined contributions and 2030 goals are not self-executing. To drive the process, we need to harness the transformative power of infrastructure investments to achieve the triple bottom line of economic well-being and jobs, social justice and equitable inclusion, and environmental protection of forests, oceans, and our ecological life-support systems.
From Words to Action
- Listen to scientists, engineers, and other infrastructure workers and professionals who build and retrofit infrastructure and know how to strengthen standards, codes, and guidelines
- Ensure that vulnerable peoples and poor communities are at the center of decision-making
- Integrate green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
- Promote just, inclusive, and sustainable financing
- Harden our infrastructure to protect it from climate-related extreme weather
- Reduce climate risks to obtain affordable insurance and reinsurance
- Encourage transparent and sustainable procurement practices
- Incentivize well buildings and safe, accessible, and affordable infrastructure
- Reduce the carbon footprint
- Support research and innovation to facilitate adoption of breakthrough technologies
Know before you sign
What does the declaration call for?
- Make climate resilience a global priority.
- Avoid climate related disasters that harm the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable.
- The end of business as usual in infrastructure projects.
- Achieve Paris Climate Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals
- Turn words into action hand in hand with everyone from engineers to vulnerable communities.
In cooperation with the US Coalition on Sustainability:
