Infrastructure for low-carbon development, climate change and resilience

Module topical coverage

• Impacts of climate change on settlements and infrastructure
• Low-carbon infrastructure project cycle
• Urban design for climate adaptation and mitigation
• Carbon accounting

Introduction

Infrastructure and urban design choices are critical to global greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts, while adaptation remains key to responding to the accelerating impacts of climate change. Some of the world’s largest cities and most important infrastructure are increasingly exposed to significant risks from climate change, including coastal flooding, droughts, heavy precipitation and periods of extreme heat.

Infrastructure can intensify climate-related risks, given the long-lived nature of most infrastructure assets. Key considerations include the design, location and sustained operation of these assets. Incorporating flexibility into infrastructure planning and management can be especially valuable, allowing systems to adapt effectively as local climate impacts emerge and intensify over time.

Informal settlements in urban areas face the most acute challenges, experiencing a double burden of limited access to basic infrastructure and heightened exposure to climate hazards. These communities, which house a significant proportion of urban populations in low- and middle-income countries, typically lack reliable water supply, sanitation, electricity, paved roads and drainage systems. This infrastructure deficit amplifies vulnerability to climate-related risks including waterborne diseases. Without adequate infrastructure, residents are unable to protect themselves from shocks, recover from disasters or adapt to changing environmental conditions. Informal settlements are often located on marginal land, such as flood plains, steep slopes, or coastal zones, where risks are most severe. Addressing climate change and infrastructure deficits in such settlements demands integrated approaches that combine upgrading of basic services, climate-resilient design, secure tenure and community participation. Failure to prioritise these communities not only perpetuates inequality but also undermines broader urban resilience and climate adaptation efforts.

Emission reduction objectives can be integrated into broader development and infrastructure planning. This module explores the pivotal role of infrastructure in achieving climate resilience and highlights the urgent need for low-carbon development to be mainstreamed through development planning, in order to propose structural solutions, such as alternative infrastructure and spatial planning, with lower emission trajectories.