All Insights

Interview

‘Whatever we can measure, we can manage’: An interview with Paolo Gallo
– The capex cycle is facing new and formidable challenges. Paolo Gallo of Italgas explains the importance of adopting a long-term... perspective.
Article

Introduction: October 2022
– Building a sustainable future will depend upon the buildings themselves being built and operated sustainably.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: October 2022
– Welcome to the October 2022 edition of Voices on Infrastructure, which focuses on decarbonizing the built environment.
Article

Reducing embodied carbon in new construction
– Three-quarters of the $9.2 trillion in infrastructure spending needed per year until 2050 will go toward new construction—offering... opportunities to fight climate change by reducing embodied emissions.
Article

On the path to net-zero steel in building and construction
– Rising demand for greener approaches creates an imperative for the industry to seize the moment, adopt new mindsets, and set standards... for the transition to a greener future.
Article

Investing in pathways to decarbonize infrastructure
– The net-zero transition requires a deep understanding of emissions drivers by asset class, opportunities specific to each asset,... and the development and rigid execution of decarbonization options.
Interview

Preparing for tomorrow: An interview with Tariq Taherbhai
– As economies, climate, and technologies change, so does the construction industry. Tariq Taherbhai of Aon explains today’s... most pressing risks.
Podcast

Sustainable spaces: Countering climate risk in capital projects
– By taking a deeper, more comprehensive approach to understanding risk, companies can mitigate climate hazards and build resilience... into the life cycle of their infrastructure and capital projects.
Interview

The art of the possible: An interview with leaders from Scottish Water
– Many organizations have made decarbonization commitments, but meeting those goals is a different story. Gordon Reid and Mark Williams... from Scottish Water share their insights.
Article

Introduction: August 2022
– Sustainable infrastructure investments in freight transport are growing—and new innovations and markets are paving the road... to the future.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: August 2022
– Welcome to the August 2022 edition of Voices on Infrastructure, which focuses on technology and sustainability in freight... transport.
Interview

Disrupting transport: An interview with Robert Falck of Einride
– Einride’s founder and CEO discusses how autonomous technology and digital infrastructure can decarbonize the difficult-to-abate... freight industry.
Article

Unlocking hydrogen’s power for long-haul freight transport
– As the demand for hydrogen in transportation increases, it is imperative to develop infrastructure to supply trucks, buses, and... cars.
Interview

DHL on sustainable, customer-centric delivery in the last mile
– Deutsche Post DHL’s head of sustainability for German Post and Parcel discusses how the logistics industry can work to decarbonize... road transportation and meet consumer expectations.
Article

Mapping the way: Decarbonizing roads
– Road developers and operators have a unique position in the transport industry and can enable significant change around lowering... emissions.
Article

Managing capital risk in the race to net zero
– How the Great Reallocation of energy and infrastructure investments is driving new strategies for managing uncertainty and risk.
Article

Introduction: June 2022
– Halfway through 2022, it’s clear that the global supply chain is still recovering.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: June 2022
– Welcome to the June 2022 edition of Voices on Infrastructure, which focuses on building resilient infrastructure supply... chains.
Article

Closing labor gaps to revitalize US infrastructure
– US construction projects are short-staffed today, and the problem is set to get worse. Here’s what the sector can do to... close the gap
Article

Infrastructure leaders need new capabilities to move toward net-zero emissions
– As the infrastructure sector increases its focus on sustainability, leaders must acquire and hone capabilities to manage new complexities... in delivering projects on time and within budget.
Interview

Built to last: An interview with Jennifer Lin of Trimble
– Trimble’s chief platform officer discusses how becoming more tech-forward will help the industry become more sustainable,... efficient, and attractive to younger generations.
Article

Building the net-zero workforce
– A four-step strategy can help enable the next generation of industry workers to deliver the net-zero portfolio.
Article

Introduction: April 2022
– The focus on net-zero engineering and project development is fully under way, and the picture for today’s energy, industrial,... and transportation assets and underlying infrastructure remains uncertain.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: April 2022
– Welcome to the April 2022 edition of Voices on Infrastructure, which tackles how we need to reimagine engineering and... project development to meet net-zero targets.
Interview

Engineering the energy transition: An interview with Aleida Rios of BP
– Aleida Rios, senior vice president of engineering at BP, sheds light on how oil and gas companies can innovate and transform to... enable a net-zero future.
Article

Capturing the net-zero opportunity with portfolio synergies
– Planning for the net-zero project portfolio presents a long-awaited opportunity to update conventional thinking, transform work... processes, and dramatically improve performance.
Interview

The innovation function: An interview with Shaun Kenny of Bechtel
– Infrastructure companies can help meet the needs of future generations by focusing on innovation today. Shaun Kenny discusses... how teamwork, training, and technology can help companies get it right.
Article

Infrastructure for a net-zero economy: Transformation ahead
– Eliminating greenhouse-gas emissions would entail major changes to the world’s stock of infrastructure assets. New McKinsey... analysis measures the shifts that could take place during this transition.
Article

How big business is taking the lead on climate change
– Business leaders have made bold commitments to reducing emissions. The challenge will be fulfilling these pledges across industries.
Article - McKinsey Quarterly

Here comes the 21st century’s first big investment wave. Is your capital strategy ready?
– A surge of investment in hard assets will pressure already strained supply chains and project delivery systems. CEOs who transform... their capital strategy fast—and first—may win a competitive edge.
Article

Introduction: February 2022
– Welcome to the first issue of Voices on Infrastructure in the new year.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: February 2022
– Welcome to the February 2022 edition of Voices on Infrastructure, which explores what it will take to successfully scale... up the delivery of capital projects to meet net-zero targets.
Interview

Changing project delivery to meet net-zero targets
– As construction increasingly adopts climate targets, owners and contractors can help change how projects are delivered. Mark Reynolds... of Mace Group discusses the skills needed to do so.
Article

Transforming capital projects to deliver net-zero emissions
– Net-zero capital expenditures will greatly exceed the current capacity of the projects sector. Collaborative transformation can... help players deliver the net-zero project portfolio.
Article

Building better capital projects through sustainability benchmarks
– As leaders across industries prioritize sustainability practices, a clear and defined set of metrics and benchmarks will be necessary... to build sustainable capital projects.
Interview

Leveraging infrastructure investment to meet net-zero goals
– Emmanuel Jaclot, executive vice president and head of infrastructure for CDPQ, discusses how investors can develop sustainable-infrastructure... solutions to address climate change risks.
Article

Upgrade the grid: Speed is of the essence in the energy transition
– The energy transition will require a dramatic increase in capital spending on the electric grid, delivered at an unprecedented... pace. Improving project success is paramount to reaching net zero.
Article

Decarbonizing the built environment: Takeaways from COP26
– How can the cement and construction industry achieve net zero by 2050? Here are the key takeaways from a roundtable discussion... McKinsey hosted at the COP26 Climate Change Conference.
Article

Introduction: December 2021
– As 2021 draws to a close, we are excited to bring together another slate of diverse voices to weigh in on the pressing, foundational... questions facing infrastructure today.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: December 2021
– Welcome to the December edition of Voices on Infrastructure, tackling how we improve project development and delivery... at this critical juncture.
Interview

Perspectives on optimizing project performance in rail
– Rail-industry leaders Rob McIntosh from Network Rail and Roger Bayliss from MTR offer insights on optimizing project development... and delivery to meet changing expectations.
Article

Creating capacity to deliver: Using investment to spur transformation
– The IIJA and the EU Green Deal present opportunities to reimagine the built environment for years to come. Infrastructure organizations... will need to radically change how they deliver projects.
Interview

Investing in the next generation of transportation infrastructure
– Two CEOs—Kim Fejfer of A.P. Moller Capital and Stephanie Wiggins of Los Angeles Metro—discuss the once-in-a-generation... opportunity to invest in the infrastructure industry.
Article

Infrastructure investing to build a net-zero-carbon world
– Infrastructure investors face the opportunity—and the challenge—of helping Europe meet its decarbonization goals.... Their focus is to protect past investments, future-proof current ones, and find the next great project.
Article

Introduction: October 2021
– The promise of electric vehicles (EVs) at scale seems increasingly tangible.
Article

News from the Global Infrastructure Initiative: October 2021
– Welcome to the October edition of Voices on Infrastructure, where we explore what it will take to scale electric-vehicle... (EV) infrastructure to meet net-zero targets.
Interview

The future of EV charging infrastructure: Executive perspectives
– Frank Mühlon of ABB and Giovanni Palazzo of Electrify America offer their insights into today’s and tomorrow’s... priorities for scaling EV charging infrastructure to meet demand.
Article

Unlocking growth in battery cell manufacturing for electric vehicles
– Demand for electric vehicles is soon expected to outpace the ramp-up of battery cell production. Accelerating the build-out of... battery cell gigafactories can help the industry stay on course.
Interview

Scaling battery capacity in Europe: A conversation with Evan Horetsky
– The Tesla gigafactory designer offers insights into what can be done to improve electric-vehicle battery manufacturing in Europe—a... move that could drive the region into a cleaner future.
Article

Shaping the future of fast-charging EV infrastructure
– To help electric vehicles reach ubiquity, governments and EV charging companies must ensure the availability of fast-charging... infrastructure doesn’t become a bottleneck for growth.
Interview

Delivering sustainable infrastructure: Insights from industry leaders
– An interview with Lara Poloni, president of AECOM, and Nick Smallwood, CEO of UK’s Infrastructure & Project Authority... about the importance of sustainable infrastructure.
Article

Action needed: Help us measure project sustainability
– Quickly delivering capital projects will be key in fighting climate change. Doing so requires capital-sustainability metrics that... apply across industries and sectors.
Interview

Accelerating sustainable infrastructure: An investor’s perspective
– Sadek Wahba, chairman and managing partner of I Squared Capital, explains how to overcome challenges for funding sustainable infrastructure... and why equitable access is so important.
Article

Ensuring adaptation and resilience to climate change
– It is necessary to implement a prioritized approach to protect urban residents, and the infrastructure that supports them, from... climate risk.
Report

Building a transport system that works: Five insights from our 25-city report
– We benchmarked urban-transport systems in 25 cities around the globe to find out what goes into the making of a smooth commute.
Article - Voices on Infrastructure

Introduction: Navigating decarbonization and energy transition in the built world
– Welcome to the July 2021 issue of Voices on Infrastructure, a collection of insights on preparing for the energy transition.
Interview

The shifting energy landscape: An interview with Maria Pope
– As the energy industry transitions to cleaner fuel sources and responds to climate change, leaders must also accommodate the evolving... needs of the communities they serve.
Interview

Engineering bright spots for a green energy future: An interview with Robin Watson
– Robin Watson CBE, chief executive of Wood, explains how digital technologies in process engineering can help lower emissions and... achieve greater sustainability.
Article

Staying connected: The investment challenge for electric grids
– Responding to the short- and long-term needs of electric grids requires integrated and coordinated investment. Yet determining... where and how much to invest is complicated by evolving market conditions.
Article

Call for action: Seizing the decarbonization opportunity in construction
– As decarbonization initiatives gain momentum, construction players can benefit from this growing trend—but only if they... view ESG as a strategic opportunity and collaborate with other stakeholders in the ecosystem.
Interview

The future of urban transit: A conversation with leaders from Uber and Via
– Countless realities—changing customer expectations, the COVID-19 pandemic, technology—are reshaping urban transit.... David Reich and Chris Snyder share their visions for the future.
Interview

A more personalized world: An interview with the CEO of Tokyo Metro
– Improved technology with better data, more attractive destinations, and increased harmony with infrastructure show how public... transportation can help riders spend their days doing what they like.
Article

Winning ridership for the next normal
– Transit agencies may need to win over former and new riders. Eight ideas can help them better meet rider needs.
Video

Tapping into the future of transport with the hyperloop
– In this video, Virgin Hyperloop CEO and cofounder Josh Giegel outlines his vision for mass adoption by the end of the decade.
Collection

2021 GII Summit: Project of the future
– This report recaps the best ideas of the 2021... GII Summit and shares the voices and perspectives of leaders from across geographies and sectors.
Debate

Debate: Funding infrastructure investment in a post-COVID-19 economy
– Harvard economists Larry Summers and Ed Glaeser debate how to fund infrastructure investment in a post-COVID world.
Article

What infrastructure stimulus investments could be the most important for governments to pursue now and why?
– Industry leaders from Beijing, the UK, Canada, and at the World Bank weigh in on the infrastructure stimulus investments governments... may want to prioritize as they consider economic recovery.
Article

Selecting infrastructure projects for the next normal
– Infrastructure projects can create jobs and spur economic growth—both critical as the world reckons with the fallout from... COVID-19. But budgets are tight, so which projects should be prioritized?
Article

Infrastructure options for the future of cities
– Leaders must tackle increasingly complex economic, social, and environmental challenges to ensure cities stay competitive. Experts... at Sidewalk Labs discuss how harnessing new technologies can help.
Article

Investing in infrastructure for a ‘green recovery’
– Asset managers must understand climate change's impact on portfolios. Lawrence Slade of the Global Infrastructure Investor Association... writes on how this can create a more sustainable built environment.
Article

A low-carbon recovery is vital—and achievable
– The post-pandemic recovery could be decisive in the fight against climate change. Our analysis illustrates how policy makers can... bring economic, environmental, and social priorities together.
Article

Infrastructure tendering in the midst of COVID-19
– As the pandemic causes supply to outpace demand in tendering, project owners must adjust their approaches to consider new risks—and... make the shifts the industry needs to move forward.
Article

The effect of government stimulus on commercial real estate amid COVID-19
– Governments have used a variety of measures to support commercial real estate and their tenants through COVID-19—with mixed... results for both parties. What opportunity exists for new approaches?
Interview

CIB’s Michael Sabia on the future of investment in Canada infrastructure
– Attracting private capital to help finance infrastructure projects is more important than ever, according to Michael Sabia, chair... of the Canada Infrastructure Bank.
Article

Collaborative contracting: Moving from pilot to scale-up
– Despite the early successes of collaborative-contract adopters, the industry remains hesitant. Five steps can help project owners... better envision the transition toward more collaborative approaches.
Interview

Remodeling infrastructure financing: A Q&A with CDPQ Infra’s Macky Tall
– Montréal’s Réseau express métropolitain (REM), a new light-rail network currently under construction,... serves as a model for how investors can help build crucial infrastructure quickly and sustainably.
Article

Agile delivery of capital projects
– Industry leaders are using the agile approach to reimagine how capital projects are delivered.
Article

Beyond taller walls: Meeting the resilience challenge of climate risk
– Climate change poses serious threats to infrastructure systems and the human lives that depend on them. It’s time for industry... players to begin building resilience.
Article

Data to the rescue: Embodied carbon in buildings and the urgency of now
– Building companies seeking to make informed materials-procurement choices may confront data that are either lacking or too complex.... A precompetitive consortium has responded with a free, open-source tool that anyone can use to help fill in the gaps.
Article

Walking the talk: Best practices for digital construction
– We are taking the advice we typically give our clients and applying it to our own construction project—and we’ll be... sharing the challenges and lessons as we go.
Article

A new paradigm for project planning
– Owners and contractors can protect both workers and project economics by embracing a more efficient approach to project execution.
Article

Preserving project continuity in the face of COVID-19
– Advancing infrastructure projects means owners must protect people, projects, and performance. This will require adopting an agile... posture, continually assessing risks, and adjusting operations.
Interview

Restarting after COVID-19: A Q&A with Clifford Chance’s David Metzger
– Standby agreements for major capital projects can help preserve relationships as well as shore up suppliers’ and contractors’... solvency during construction standstills.
Article

Resetting capital spending in the wake of COVID-19
– Amid the pandemic, many CFOs are struggling to stabilize cash flows. A quick reset of capital spending—which can usually... be achieved in about four weeks—can help them reach their goals.
Article

How construction can emerge stronger after coronavirus
– Engineering, construction, and building materials have a vital role to play in a post-pandemic recovery of our communities and... economies. Seven actions can help companies prepare for the next normal.
Interview

Meeting E&C needs in and after coronavirus: A Q&A with WSP’s Paul Dollin
– A global engineering consultancy is planning for recovery by rethinking how its people work, as it safeguards its engineering... and construction operations.
Article

Commercial real estate must do more than merely adapt to coronavirus
– COVID-19 is a humanitarian challenge that will have lasting effects on how people live, work, and play. By acting today, real... estate leaders can best serve end users and ensure their own viability.