April 2018: Participants at the Geneva Forum on Sustainable Infrastructure shared approaches and tools for ensuring that infrastructure projects contribute to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Call to Action agreed at the Forum cites the need to promote nature-based solutions to infrastructure planning and development, among other priority areas for engagement.
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP, or UN Environment), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the University of Geneva (UNIGE) organized the Forum, which took place from 22-23 March 2018, in Gland, Switzerland.
On infrastructure and the SDGs, participants emphasized that the sustainability elements of infrastructure should be planned from the beginning, to avoid negative impacts on biodiversity, among other areas. Participants recognized that investments in nature can result in climate benefits and disaster risk reduction (DRR). Participants also recommended supporting a circular economy through infrastructure, and making infrastructure assets affordable and accessible to most people.
On the environmental and social impacts of large infrastructure projects, a panel underscored the importance of policies, prices and pathways that align countries’ long-term development pathways with national strategies. Participants recognized that well designed infrastructure can support environmental benefits, including flood protection, water and soil conservation and reforestation, and ways of engaging local people and supporting employment.
On integrated systems and solutions, panelists shared examples of integrated large-scale infrastructure projects. Case studies of Beijing Capital Airport and Geneva Airport examined how to make airports more resources efficient and sustainable. A case study on the Aral Sea Basin illustrated the use of the water-energy-food-security nexus approach in investment planning and enhancing cooperation around infrastructure development.
On relevant tools, participants shared policy and technical tools that can be applied to enhance the sustainability performance of infrastructure projects. The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), World Bank and GIZ launched the ‘International Framework for Eco-Industrial Park’, which aims to assist public and private sector decision-making covering environment, social, economic and park management. The panel also discussed the Standard for Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, a voluntary standard to integrated sustainability and resilience into infrastructure development; the UN Economic Commission for Europe’s (UNECE) Protocol on Strategic Environmental Assessment, which strengthens requirements for conducting environmental impact assessments (EIAs) with an emphasis on public participation and health; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Guidelines; and the ITC Sustainability Map.
The MDBs have room for improvement in their enforcement of sustainability standards, said participants.
On green investment, a panel discussed progress in green finance policies and challenges encountered by financial institutions, international and domestic institutions in closing the financing gap and greening infrastructure investment. Participants observed that the multilateral development banks (MDBs) have room for improvement in their enforcement of sustainability standards, and said civil society can help to raise the bar. Panelists also highlighted the growth of green bonds and other green products.
The Forum concluded with a session on future engagement, which agreed on the ‘Geneva Call for Sustainable Infrastructure’ on engaging to increase the sustainability of global infrastructure development. The Call for Action describes how sustainable infrastructure can have impacts on SDG 13 (climate action), SDG 14 (life below water) and SDG 15 (life on land). The document identifies priority areas for engagement, such as: addressing the need for strategic approaches to infrastructure planning and development that incorporates environmental sustainability, inclusiveness, resilience and security in line with the 2030 Agenda; promoting nature-based solutions to infrastructure planning and development; and supporting sharing of experiences, data and tools to support sustainable infrastructure. [Summary Report] [Event Website]