This briefing note reviews the evidence relating to the costs and benefits of infrastructure resilience, considers potential financing options and discusses how DFID staff can ensure value for money during investment decision-making.
Infrastructure investments typically have longer lifetimes than other forms of development finance. Operating lives of assets relating to the transport, water and power sectors may often be greater than 50 years and can exceed 100 years. Major shocks and stresses such as extreme weather events related to climate change are almost inevitable during these timescales. Failure to consider current and future climate risks within infrastructure planning can lock societies into development pathways that make them more vulnerable for decades to come, resulting in significant costs.
