Latest news with #InternationalConferenceonDisasterResilientInfrastructure
The Hindu
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
ICDRI 2025: PM Modi outlines key global priorities to strengthen disaster resilience, early warning systems, coordination
The seventh year of the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI), organised by the New Delhi-headquartered Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), was held on June 6 and 7 in Nice, France. This is the first time the conference was held in Europe with the CDRI as the co-chair. ICDRI 2025 is aligned with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Geneva, and third U.N. Oceans Conference (UNOC3), in Nice. This year's focus is on coastal communities, which contribute roughly $1.5 trillion to global GDP annually — a figure projected to rise to nearly $3 trillion by 2030. In addition, nearly 90% of goods moved globally are transported by sea. Addressing virtually, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 7 outlined key global priorities to strengthen disaster resilience, the need for early warning systems and coordination. Major disasters Highlighting the theme of the conference, 'Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions,' the Prime Minister underscored the vulnerability of coastal regions and islands to natural disasters and climate change. Citing recent disasters, including Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, Hurricane Helene in the United States, Typhoon Usagi in the Philippines, and Cyclone Chido in parts of Africa, he emphasised that these disasters had caused significant damage to human lives and property, reinforcing the need for resilient infrastructure and proactive disaster management. 'With its past experiences with devastating disasters, including the super-cyclone of 1999 and the tsunami of 2004, India has adapted and rebuilt with resilience, constructing cyclone shelters across vulnerable areas and contributing to the establishment of a tsunami warning system benefiting 29 countries,' Mr. Modi said. The CDRI is working with 25 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to build resilient homes, hospitals, schools, energy systems, water security measures, and early warning systems. Mr. Modi talked about the importance of integrating disaster resilience courses, modules, and skill development programmes into higher education to build a skilled workforce equipped to tackle future challenges. 'There is a need for a global digital repository to document best practices and learnings from countries that have faced disasters and rebuilt with resilience. Disaster resilience requires innovative financing; we need to create actionable programmes to ensure developing nations have access to necessary funds as the third priority,' he added. On India's recognition of SIDS as Large Ocean Countries, the Prime Minister emphasised the need for special attention to their vulnerabilities. 'The construction of infrastructure that remain steadfast against time and tide is key; there is a need for resilience in development and with global efforts a strong and disaster-resilient future for the world can be built.' Welcoming African Union as a new member of CDRI, P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and co-chair of the CDRI, announced the African Union Commission as the newest member of the coalition. 'Fifty-four members from different countries have joined the CDRI and are bound by a common belief that resilience must be embedded in the very foundations of development.' Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said, 'Resilient infrastructure is not just a policy option — it is a necessity for survival. We believe that resilience begins not at the shoreline but in the minds and systems we build.' Rachel Kyte, U.K. Special Representative for Climate, said, 'As climate-fueled disasters escalate, insurers are pulling out, raising rates, and narrowing coverage. It is a pressing global issue, especially urgent for developing economies.' Announcements at the conference included the awarding of research grants for 53 projects spanning 21 countries, as well as a call to action for accelerating infrastructure resilience in small island nations. The emphasis was on the urgent need for global collaboration and investment. About 37% of the world's population lives within 100 km of the coast, where the population density is twice the global average. While all coastal areas face growing challenges, SIDS are especially vulnerable because of their remoteness and isolation. CDRI Director General Amit Prothi said, 'Coastal resilience is essential for safeguarding lives, livelihoods, and economies. Being delivered in Europe for the first time, in partnership with the Government of France, the 7th edition of CDRI's annual conference will again foster inclusive dialogue and forge action-oriented partnerships to advance the cause of disaster-resilient infrastructure. Through our IRIS programme, we are supporting 24 projects across 25 SIDS, driving sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development.' CDRI was launched by Mr. Modi at the U.N. Climate Action Summit in September 2019 and is a major global initiative playing a leadership role in climate change and disaster resilience matters. CDRI released the working paper on 'Infrastructure Resilience in Small Island Developing States'. The paper provides an assessment of infrastructure risks in SIDS, offering policymakers guidance on multi-hazard threats, expected losses, and a resilience framework integrating financial, institutional, governance, nature-based, and technological solutions for sustainable adaptation.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PM calls for action on disaster resilience in Paris Conference
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday outlined five urgent global priorities for building disaster-resilient infrastructure, calling for a collective push to safeguard vulnerable regions, especially coastal and island nations, from the intensifying impacts of climate change. Speaking at the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, 2025 - held for the first time in Europe - Modi said the world must "build infrastructure that stands firm against time and tide". He praised France and its president, Emmanuel Macron, for hosting the event and noted the significance of the upcoming UN Oceans Conference. Five key global imperatives listed by Modi were integrating disaster resilience into education and skill programmes; creating a global digital repository of best practices; innovating disaster financing for developing nations; treating Small Island Developing States as 'Large Ocean Countries' deserving special attention; and strengthening early warning systems with better coordination and last-mile communication. Framing his speech around recent devastating cyclones and typhoons across Asia, Africa, and the Americas, Modi emphasised that building resilience is no longer optional. He recalled India's own painful experience during the 1999 super-cyclone and the 2004 tsunami, and highlighted how the country responded by investing in resilient shelters and a tsunami warning system that now benefits 29 countries.
NDTV
07-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Lets Build A More Resilient Future": PM Inaugurates Key Conference In France
Quick Read Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed. At the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in France, PM Modi emphasised collaboration to protect vulnerable coastal regions from climate change risks. Inaugurating a key conference on disaster-resilient infrastructure in France, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted that coastal regions and islands are at great risk because of climate change and stressed the need for countries to come together to build a resilient future for all. The International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI), which is now in its seventh year, is being held over Friday and Saturday in Nice, France. This is the first time the conference, organised by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), has been held in Europe with France as a co-chair. This year, the focus is on ways to unlock public and private finance to protect coastal and island communities and small island developing states (SIDS) like Mauritius and Fiji, from growing climate risks such as sea level rise and extreme storms - which is especially important since approximately 37% of the global population resides within 100 km of the coast. The theme for the year is 'Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions'. Inaugurating the event virtually, Prime Minister Modi spoke about shared experiences of coastal communities across the globe and how India and Bangladesh recently witnessed Cyclone Remal, the Caribbean had Hurricane Beryl, South East Asia saw Typhoon Yagi and parts of the United States of America were devastated by Hurricane Helene. "Coastal regions and islands are at great risk due to disasters and climate change. Let us build infrastructure that stands firm against time and tide, creating a stronger, more resilient future for all," the Prime Minister said. The conference has brought together leaders, policymakers, technical experts and practitioners from 54 diverse countries, including India, Samoa, Fiji, Japan and New Zealand. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, said, "Resilient infrastructure is not just a policy option - it is a necessity for survival. We believe that resilience begins not at the shoreline but in the minds and systems we build." Call To Action With changing climate patterns leading to stronger storms and rising sea levels, the impact on vulnerable infrastructure systems and communities is intensifying and during sessions and closed-door meetings at the conference, three key pillars to drive resilience efforts were addressed: access to finance, data, technology and early warning systems, and codes and standards. Announcements at the conference included the awarding of research grants for 53 projects spanning 21 countries, as well as a call to action for accelerating infrastructure resilience in small island nations. The emphasis was on the urgent need for global collaboration and investment. In his opening address, CDRI's Director General Amit Prothi said, "ICDRI 2025 unites global voices to inform action for vulnerable coastal communities and SIDS. Through our IRIS programme, we are supporting 24 projects across 25 SIDS, driving sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development." CDRI, which is headquartered in Delhi, was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Climate Action Summit in September 2019, and is a major global initiative playing a leadership role in climate change and disaster resilience matters. ICDRI is taking place alongside the 3rd United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice and, on Friday, there was a spectacular drone show over the coastline, with 2,025 drones taking to the skies, creating sea animals such as dolphins, fish, turtles and manta rays. The drone show was the largest in Europe so far.
India Today
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Global leaders convene in France to boost coastal disaster resilience
The seventh International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) opened in France's Nice on Saturday, gathering over 350 delegates from governments, UN agencies and development banks to focus on building disaster-resilient infrastructure for coastal regions and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).With 37 per cent of the world's population living within 100 km of the coast and 90 per cent of global goods transported by sea, the stakes are high. Coastal economies contribute USD 1.5 trillion annually to global GDP, a figure expected to double by year's ICDRI, themed 'shaping a resilient future for coastal regions', is the first to be held in Europe and is co-hosted by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the French government. The conference zeroes in on three pillars: improving access to finance, leveraging data and technology for early warning systems, and strengthening codes and standards for infrastructure resilience. In his virtual address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the urgency of global action, noting the heightened risks faced by coastal and island communities due to disasters and climate change. "Let us build infrastructure that stands firm against time and tide, creating a stronger, more resilient future for all," he Modi also outlined five global priorities, including workforce skills, innovative financing and a digital repository for best from SIDS echoed the call for urgent support. Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali described climate-resilient infrastructure as "a question of survival", while Nauru's President David Adeang called for moving "from dialogue to delivery" to ensure no nation is left and Barbuda's Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Haiti's Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aime both emphasised that resilience is a necessity, not a luxury and a moral imperative for global Director General Amit Prothi highlighted the IRIS programme, which is supporting 24 projects across 25 SIDS, and announced new research grants for 53 projects in 21 countries. The conference also reaffirmed the coalition's commitment to advancing climate and disaster resilience across Africa and issued a call to action for accelerating investment in small island climate risks intensify, ICDRI 2025 aims to transform global dialogue into concrete action, ensuring that vulnerable coastal communities are equipped for a safer and more sustainable future. IN THIS STORY#Narendra Modi
India Gazette
07-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Strengthening early warning systems, coordination is crucial", says PM Modi addressing ICDRI
New Delhi [India], June 7 (ANI): Highlighting the significance of strengthening early warning systems to mitigate risks from disasters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that coastal regions and islands are at great risk due to natural disasters and climate change. Addressing the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (ICDRI) via videoconference, the Prime Minister said that India in recent times witnessed Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, and Hurricane Helene in the United States. 'The theme of this conference is shaping our resilient future for coastal regions. Coastal regions and islands are at great risk due to natural disasters and climate change. In recent times, we saw Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in Southeast Asia, Hurricane Helene in the United States, Typhoon Usagi in the Philippines, and Cyclone Chido in parts of Africa. Such disasters damage life and property,' the Prime Minister said. He recounted India's experience during the super cyclone of 1999 and the Tsunami in 2004. 'India also experienced the pain during the super cyclone of 1999 and the tsunami in 2004. Cyclone shelters were constructed across the vulnerable areas. We also helped build a Tsunami Warning system for 29 countries,' PM Modi said. 'The coalition for disaster-resilient infrastructure is working with 25 small island developmental states. Resilient homes, hospitals, schools, energy and water security and early warning systems are being built,' he added. Further emphasising the need for a skilled workforce to tackle future challenges, PM Modi said, 'Courses, modules and skill-development projects need to become part of the higher education system. This will build a skilled workforce that can tackle future challenges. 'Many countries faced disasters and rebuilt with resilience. A global digital repository for the learnings and best practices would be beneficial. Disaster resilience requires innovative finance; we must design actionable programmes and ensure that developing nations have access to finance,' he added, stressing the global digital repository. 'Strengthening early warning systems and coordination is crucial. This helps in early decisions and effective last-mile communication,' the Prime Minister further said. (ANI)
