Meeting the sustainable infrastructure challenge

Welcome to the September 2021 issue of Voices on Infrastructure, a collection of insights on how infrastructure can help address the climate-change challenge.

Many of the obstacles and uncertainties experienced over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic have had unprecedented effects on the $11.6 trillion global infrastructure industry. While the disruptions have been significant, COVID-19 also accelerated a number of trends that were already occurring, including a renewed focus on sustainability and resilience, decarbonization, the energy transition, social equity, and digital-technology and talent strategy.

Infrastructure investment continues to be a critical driver for outcomes such as these, and bold commitments and strong collaboration across the public and private sectors are likely to prove essential to addressing climate change.

We hope the following topics in this issue of Voices help inspire leaders globally to reimagine creating paths to meeting the

climate-change challenge—one of the most important themes for sustainable infrastructure:

• A wave of changes to how we design, build, and operate infrastructure.
• A new approach to public–private collaboration.
• Capital sustainability will play a critical role in achieving sustainable development goals.
• Adapting our cities to climate risk.

The existential threat of climate change prompts a rethink on the part of all infrastructure participants. Only by taking a fresh look at our technologies, business models, and agendas can the industry meet the challenge—and in a sustainable, equitable way. Every challenge, though, brings with it opportunities for leaders to have a lasting impact in the fight against climate change.