Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure - UN CC:Learn

Chapter 4: A ‘No-Regrets’ Risk-Based Approach to Climate Proofing Public Infrastructure‘‘Mainstreamingaims to enhancethe effectiveness,efficiency, andlongevity of initiativesby reducing climaterelatedrisks,while at the sametime contributingto sustainabledevelopment andimproved quality of life.’’National, local and sector development should be based on harmonized DRM and CCA strategies, plansand actions that ensure risks are reduced to acceptable levels. These actions, and the related strategiesand plans, will help strengthen all decision-making processes by requiring that specific programmes andprojects include plans and actions to manage risks associated with future, as well as present, climate variabilityand extreme weather events. Such actions will result in the climate proofing of development projectsand related initiatives in support of the wider process of sustainable development. This is a risk-basedno-regrets approach.It is important to assess the risks arising from current climate variability and extremes as well as fromfuture changes in those risks that might result from longer-term changes in climate. Likewise, it is importantto assess CCA strategies and other measures that can be used to reduce unacceptable risks, includinganalyses of their benefits and costs. These analyses should determine, in a rigorous and quantitativemanner, the incremental costs of adaptation to climate change. In some cases, if these costs are clearlyidentified and quantified by a developing country, they might be compensated, at least in part, by theinternational community (e.g. bilateral and multilateral aid providers, and funding mechanisms such asthe Special Climate Change Fund or the Adaptation Fund).It is critical to mainstream climate change considerations into national strategic development plans, andclimate proofing infrastructure and community development projects is part and parcel of this process. Inthe context of addressing climate and related risks, the term ‘mainstreaming’ is used to describe the integrationof CCA adaptation into ongoing and new development policies, plans, and strategies, includinglaws and regulations (e.g. EIA requirements). Mainstreaming aims to enhance the effectiveness, efficiency,and longevity of initiatives by reducing climate-related risks, while at the same time contributing tosustainable development and improved quality of life.It is important to consider the different levels at which adaptation takes place, and the linkages betweenthem. Adaptation takes place at the project level, through regulation and compliance, through short- andmid-term policy-making and planning at subnational level, and through national strategic developmentplanning. It is also important to strengthen the enabling environment for CCA to increase the likelihood ofsuccessful adaptation at project and community levels.The process undertaken by public authorities to identify, evaluate and decide on different options forthe use of land, including consideration of long-term economic, social and environmental objectivesand the implications for different communities and interest groups, and the subsequent formulation andpromulgation of plans that describe the permitted or acceptable uses, is critical. Land-use planning is animportant contributor to sustainable development. It involves studies and mapping; analysis of economic,environmental and hazard data; formulation of alternative land-use decisions; and design of long-rangeplans for different geographical and administrative scales. Land-use planning can help to mitigate disastersand reduce risks by discouraging settlements and construction of key installations in hazard-proneareas, including consideration of service routes for transport, power, water, sewage and other critical facilities(ISDR, 2009a).28Paving the Way for Climate-Resilient Infrastructure: Conference Proceedings