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In 2018, after 3 years of droughts, the city of Cape Town in South Africa faced severe water shortages. Dam reservoir capacity had dropped to critical levels and the city was fast approaching “Day Zero” of no water availability. Desalination, new dams, strict water usage limits – all solutions were on the table. Solving the water crisis in Cape Town required a variety of activities, including gray infrastructure, behavioral change, pricing changes, and a massive communications campaign. Among all these approaches, one important contribution was surprising: the removal of invasive plant species.

After decades of private sector growth, private capital holds most available global finance. The rise of private wealth coincided with the decline of public wealth in developed countries, which now hold zero or even negative shares in total wealth due to significant public debt burdens, according to the 2022 World Inequality Lab Report. Moreover, the 2023 IMF Global Debt Monitor revealed that global public debt reached 90% of GDP in 2022, a dramatic increase from the 30% recorded in the early 1970s.

Climate change poses a significant threat to infrastructure, with rising sea levels, extreme weather phenomena, and escalating temperatures posing substantial physical risks. These hazards can lead to the degradation of crucial infrastructure assets, undermining social, economic, and environmental stability. Recent analysis by EDHECInfra, as featured in the Global Infrastructure Hub's Infrastructure Monitor report, underscores the scale of the situation. Projections based on current climate and policy scenarios indicate that by 2050, infrastructure assets could see a net value decline of 4.4% on average, and up to 26.7% in the most severe scenarios. This depreciation is a direct consequence of the lack of resilience of global infrastructure to the effects of climate change. The consequences of inaction are far-reaching, affecting not just the financial performance of assets, but also the economic, environmental, and social fabric of communities worldwide. One promising strategy to mitigate these risks involves the adoption of a systemic resilience metrics (SRM) framework tailored specifically to infrastructure.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) presents a significant opportunity for digital transformation in the infrastructure (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry. This sector, traditionally reliant on manual labor, mechanical technology, and traditional business models, has seen limited innovations in productivity compared to many other global industries. However, new digital technologies, particularly InfraTech solutions like drone technology, offer a promising pathway to revolutionize this industry.

In a new research publication from the EDHEC Infrastructure & Private Assets Research Institute, entitled "Low Tide, Benchmarking Risks in Infrastructure Investments: What the data showed about Thames Water," we ask what investors in Thames Water in the UK would have learned about the risk of their investment and its likely market value had they compared its characteristics to market and peer group data.

What are nature-based solutions, and what role do they play in meeting SDGs and the transition to net zero?

We recently spoke with the GIIA’s new CEO, Jon Phillips, who shares his priorities, his thoughts on opportunities and challenges facing the infrastructure sector, and how the GIIA is responding.

Sam Barr outlines several opportunities for decisionmakers at COP28 to commit to delivering infrastructure for social equity.

The GI Hub’s Rory Linehan outlines three critical infrastructure-related areas to watch for at COP28.

The GI Hub is working with governments and other stakeholders to define transition pathways for infrastructure to meet net zero and sustainable development goals.

The GI Hub collaborated with eight multilateral development banks on a systematic approach to scaling up technology solutions for sustainable roads.

We ask the Miundo Misingi Hub’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Johnson Kilangi, for his views on how sustainable and socially responsible projects yield long-term benefits, and how capacity building is key to improving infrastructure development and inclusive growth across Africa.

Vicki Cerullo, Acting Executive Director, New York City (NYC) Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice, explains the city’s latest action plan for a cleaner, greener, and more just city, and outlines the plan’s key initiatives, and achievements.

Scaling up existing multilateral solutions and developing new ones are key to increasing much-needed private investment in infrastructure in emerging and developing markets. In her latest article, our CEO, Marie Lam-Frendo shares her thoughts on de-risking instruments as one solution.

Andrew Savage, Vice President of Sustainability at Lime – the world’s largest shared electric vehicle company, explains what Lime is doing to build a future where transportation can be shared, affordable, and carbon-free.

In this article, we explain the regulatory barriers that face the infrastructure asset class and that discourage the uptake of commonly used credit-risk mitigation instruments, and how we are working toward addressing these challenges.

Learn how the transition pathways for sustainable infrastructure link long-term sustainability goals with infrastructure plans.

In this Q&A, Philippe explains how PIDG’s 2023-30 Strategy positions action on climate, nature, and sustainability through infrastructure as central to their purpose.

Ahead of Climate Week NYC and the United Nations SDG Summit, both taking place this September in New York City, the GI Hub is publishing interviews with public and private sector leaders working at the municipal, state, national, and global levels – bringing you their thoughts on the importance of infrastructure in the climate transition. In this Q&A, John and Nivardo share how the FY2024 New York State Budget is accelerating investment in infrastructure toward climate targets and social equity.