Britain confirmed as the first co-chair of the Governing Council on the India-led global Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
The coalition was established by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is a voluntary international grouping, linking governments, UN agencies, banks, private sector groups, and academia to develop the resilience of infrastructure systems to climate and disaster risks.
The Governing Council is the highest policy-making body of the CDRI. It is co-chaired by India and a representative of another national government nominated by rotation every two years.
Britain was represented at the first council meeting by its Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the minister participated remotely over video link from Britain.
The minister, who is President of the 2020 UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), also held a meeting with Pramod Kumar Mishra, the Indian Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary, over videoconference.
Secretary of State for Business and Energy and COP26 President Sharma said: “I was pleased to be able to join the inaugural meeting and confirm the UK as the first co-chair of the CDRI. Delivering action on climate change remains a priority for the UK and I am sure that the UK-India partnership on climate action will help see progress on reducing emissions and help make India”s infrastructure fit for the future.”
Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India, said: “The UK is already working closely with India as a joint force for good on climate change. We believe the India-led CDRI will bring about a transformation in how infrastructure is designed, constructed, operated and maintained.”
“This year is a crucial year for our climate, and I am confident that UK-India leadership on climate action can deliver substantial progress towards reducing emissions and helping to build resilience globally.”
Britain will provide technical advice and expertise to help set up and build the secretariat and advance the objectives of the coalition. The initial focus will be on disaster and climate risk analysis and governance of infrastructure.
In 2019, Britain became the first major economy to legislate to become a net zero emissions economy by 2050.
Britain will be hosting COP26 in Glasgow in November.
Ajay Mathur, Director General of TERI — The Energy & Resources Institute, said: “India is on track to achieve its commitments made under the Paris Agreement nearly a decade in advance of the 2030 timeframe.”
“Assuming leadership on climate action, whilst pushing its developmental agenda, demonstrates the importance India places on sustainable development. The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure has been promoted by India to focus on both existing and new infrastructure, to ensure this is built with climate and disaster risk in mind.”