The Coalition was established by Indian 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 Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). It is co-chaired by India and a representative of another national government nominated by rotation every two years.
The UK was represented at the first council meeting by UK Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Alok Sharma. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the minister participated remotely over video link from the UK. 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 Alok 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.
The UK 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.
UK’s work on climate change/environmental issues:
In 2019, the UK became the first major economy to legislate to become a net zero emissions economy by 2050. Other landmark policies include a commitment to make all new cars and vans sold electric by 2040; and a doubling of our investment to tackle climate change and species loss (new pledge £11.6bn between 2021/22 to 2025/26).
The UK will host COP26 in Glasgow in November 2020.
UK-India working together:
On adaptation, we are working together through the Mahatama Gandhi National Rural Employment Act to build flood defences and river structures to encourage aquifer replenishment and together with India’s Ministry of Earth Sciences, we are gathering land, sea and atmospheric data to help deliver a decisive step forward in monsoon forecasting.
On electric mobility, a joint venture between UK’s EO Charging and India’s Yahhvi Enterprises will deliver charging infrastructure for electric vehicles cross India.
On finance, our governments committed £240 million of anchor capital in the Green Growth Equity Fund – its first investment going to Ayana Renewable Power, which is developing 800MW of solar generation capacity.
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Mail to: Ashwamegh Banerjee
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