Building resilient, low-impact infrastructure

This module addresses the environmental impact of infrastructure and its capacity to withstand climate shocks. The focus is on optimising the use of resources, managing waste, and monitoring environmental and climate metrics such as greenhouse gas emissions and disaster risks. Where possible, circular economy practices are integrated into these processes.

Key metrics:

• Forecast of greenhouse gas emissions: Measuring carbon footprints.
• Protected area: Comparing project location with environmentally protected areas.
• Climate and disaster risk assessment: Assessing project vulnerability to climate risks like flooding or heatwaves.
• Decommissioning plans: Assessing planning for safely retiring and dismantling project assets at the end of their lifecycle.
• Conservation measures: Assessing measures to protect and enhance biodiversity.

It is no longer feasible to pursue infrastructure projects that are “climate- and environmental neutral”. Instead, they must be designed and operated in a way that contributes to resilience and mitigation efforts, with the dual objective of safeguarding both natural ecosystems and economic assets.

Technical guidance on how to implement the data points can be found here.