Fifth Anniversary of Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Syllabus: GS3/ Disaster Management

In Context

• On this occasion, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) has launched a $2.5 million initiative to improve urban infrastructure resilience in 30 low-and middle-income countries and Small Island Developing States.
  • The funding will support five cities facing challenges like extreme heat, flooding, and water scarcity, focusing on energy, transportation, social infrastructure, and water systems.

About CDRI

• Launched: At the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 by India.
• Nature: A global partnership involving nations, UN agencies, multilateral development banks, and the private sector.
• Objective: To promote the resilience of infrastructure systems against climate and disaster risks, ensuring sustainable development.
• Membership: Comprises 40 countries and 7 organizations, with its secretariat located in New Delhi, India.
• Functions: CDRI promotes rapid development of resilient infrastructure to respond to the Sustainable Development Goals’ imperatives of expanding universal access to basic services, enabling prosperity and decent work.
• Reports Published: Global Infrastructure Resilience Report.

Importance of CDRI

• Complementing the International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• The leadership of Indian for climate Action and Disaster Resilience at the global level.
• Support India’s resilient missions abroad.
• Provide opportunities for Indian infrastructure & technology firms to expand services abroad.

Major Initiatives Taken By CDRI

• Infrastructure for Resilient Island States (IRIS): Aimed at promoting resilient, sustainable, and inclusive infrastructure in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
• DRI Connect Platform: A collaborative platform for knowledge exchange and learning.
• Facilitates networking and sharing of best practices among stakeholders in infrastructure resilience.
• International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI): An annual global conference that brings together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders.
• Infrastructure Resilience Accelerator Fund (IRAF): Established with support from UNDP and UNDRR. It provides financial support for global initiatives aimed at enhancing the disaster resilience of infrastructure systems.

Need for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

• The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (SFDRR) highlights the role of improved disaster resilience of infrastructure as a cornerstone for sustainable development.
• The SFDRR includes four specific targets related to loss reduction:
  • Reduce global disaster mortality.
  • Reduce the number of affected people.
  • Reduce direct disaster economic loss.
  • Reduce disaster damage to critical infrastructure.
  • Target (4) on infrastructure is an important prerequisite to achieving the other loss reduction targets set out in the framework.

Source: ET