The UK was today confirmed as the first co-chair of the
Governing Council on the India-led global Coalition for Disaster
Resilient Infrastructure.
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,
. 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
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.
