OECD Infrastructure Forum 2024 - Discussions on Low-Emission and Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
Many countries, including the most advanced ones, face significant challenges in planning and implementing public infrastructure projects. Whether building roads, bridges, schools, or hospitals, cost increases and delays are common. During construction, there is a push to use less polluting materials and solutions. Additionally, infrastructure must become more resilient to extreme weather events due to climate change.
These topics were discussed at the 16th Meeting of the OECD's Network of Senior Infrastructure and PPP Officials (SIP Network) and the OECD Infrastructure Forum 2024, held in Paris in April. The Central Project Management Agency (CPVA) has been a member of the SIP Network since 2019.
At the SIP Network meeting, it was emphasized that planning infrastructure to be built within the contracted budget, without significant cost overruns and delays, is a primary goal for every government. Achieving this goal impacts citizens' trust in their governments and helps assess the potential costs associated with infrastructure gaps, climate change, and the necessary increased resilience of infrastructure.
"Even the most advanced OECD countries still face cost increases and delays in infrastructure projects—from planning to operational stages. For example, Norway, which has one of the world's most complex infrastructure quality assurance methods, still experiences an average cost increase of 40%. The Swedish Transport Administration is also currently investigating the causes of cost increases," said CPVA's Public-Private Partnership expert Neringa Pažūsienė, who participated in the meeting.
The 2024 Infrastructure Forum primarily focused on the resilience of public infrastructure to climate change. This is a key factor determining the overall economic and social resilience of a country to climate change risks.
"As climate change intensifies, infrastructure will inevitably be more affected by extreme weather conditions. Beyond the safety risks to citizens, the resilience of infrastructure to climate change has economic implications for investors and public sector spending on infrastructure repairs, renewals, and problem resolution," shared N. Pažūsienė during the forum.
The impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident, with extreme events such as floods, heatwaves, and wildfires becoming more challenging to manage and more widespread.
"It is emphasized how important it is to accelerate the transition to zero emissions and mitigate the direct future impacts of climate change. This is relevant to all countries, regions, and cities. It is said that infrastructure will play a crucial role in maintaining people's way of life in the face of climate change," said N. Pažūsienė.
The forum also presented the report "Infrastructure for a Resilient Future," which outlines steps countries can take to improve their infrastructure's resilience to climate change when planning and financing projects. The report provides insights for policymakers aiming to assess and enhance the legal, regulatory, and institutional frameworks for infrastructure management.
