The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, in partnership with the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), organized a pivotal side event at the India Pavilion during the UNFCCC COP 28 in Dubai on December 4th, 2023. The event, held under the Adaptation Pillar of the Quad Climate Working Group (QCWG), focused on the theme of “Financing the Resilient and Sustainable Infrastructure: Role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs).”
Distinguished representatives from Quad countries participated in a comprehensive discussion exploring the potential of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in financing infrastructure projects that prioritize resilience and sustainability. The panel deliberated on the challenges and opportunities inherent in leveraging PPPs for funding infrastructure, particularly emphasizing resilience and sustainability criteria.
The panel comprised Ms. Cate Rogers from DFAT (Australia), Ms. Ayuko Kobayakawa from the Ministry of the Environment (Japan), Ms. Rajasree Ray from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (India), Ms. Jacqueline Musiitwa from USAID, and Mr. Darshan Patel from the US International Development Finance Corporation (USA). The session, moderated by Ms. Alpana Saha, Lead Partnership Specialist at CDRI, served as a significant platform for sharing impactful cases of PPPs contributing to infrastructure resilience across the Indo-Pacific region.
The panel highlighted the crucial role of collaboration among Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), government bodies, and private entities to scale up infrastructure resilience. They underscored the importance of bankable projects that instill confidence in financial markets, addressing challenges related to insurance, risk-sharing, and data availability, especially amidst climate-related uncertainties. Strategic implementation of climate screening was identified as an effective tool in managing climate risks.
In conclusion, the panel stressed the need for increased awareness and capacity building among stakeholders. They emphasized the instrumental role of knowledge-sharing platforms, partnerships, and technical assistance programs in effectively addressing the multifaceted challenges discussed during the event. The collaborative effort among Quad nations signifies a concerted push toward resilient and sustainable infrastructure development through innovative financing mechanisms like PPPs.