Resilient infrastructure could halve GDP losses after disasters: CDRI
Belem, Brazil – Nov 17 – A new report released by the Coalition for Disaster‑Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), a Think‑Tank in New Delhi, says that putting money into tough, disaster‑ready infrastructure could cut the impact of climate‑related losses on economies by up to half by 2050. The study was unveiled early in the ongoing COP30 conference.
The research focuses on eight countries that are especially vulnerable to climate change: Bangladesh, Barbados, Bhutan, Fiji, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar and the Philippines. Its key findings are stark:
* In these nations, up to 80 % of the damage from disasters comes from infrastructure breaking down—roads, bridges, power lines, water systems and more.
* When infrastructure fails, the total economic cost can be more than seven times the physical damage itself.
* Without urgent action, annual GDP losses could soar to 14.5 % in Bangladesh and 12.9 % in the Philippines by 2050. Even the average across all eight countries could rise from 5.2 % to 7.4 %.
About $800 billion worth of infrastructure assets worldwide face disaster each year, and up to 14 % of global GDP growth could be threatened. Investing in resilience now could protect those numbers.
The report also showed how rebuilding after a disaster matters. If a country rebuilds over ten years, long‑term GDP losses could drop from more than seven % to just three %. Speeding that recovery to four years could take losses down to around two %.
Adding disaster‑resilience features to new projects is not a huge price hike. CDRI’s broader research says costs go up only 5 %–15 %, while future returns can be 7–12 times higher in terms of reduced damage and faster economic recovery.
A global survey of infrastructure leaders, included in the report, paints a similar picture. Only 61 % of companies put some money into resilience, and a quarter do it at all. Most firms say they lack a dedicated, separate budget for protecting infrastructure before a disaster hits.
By 2050, the world still needs trillions of dollars worth of new infrastructure. CDRI urges governments, banks and the private sector to make resilience a standard requirement, not an optional extra.
“Resilient infrastructure is a catalyst for sustainable growth,” said CDRI Director General Amit Prothi. “Every dollar invested pays for itself many times over, protecting lives, livelihoods, and public finances. Now is the time to embed resilience into national planning and policy to safeguard future prosperity.”
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