What The World Must Do To Build Climate Friendly Cities

As floods ravage India and buildings crumble, it is time to reflect on what and how we build, and how we address climate change. Globally, around $90 trillion is needed in infrastructure by 2030 to meet growing demand for energy, mobility, water and sanitation. Ensuring that this infrastructure is sustainable and resilient is both climate and budget-smart. New research from the World Bank finds that the overall net benefit of investing in climate-resilient infrastructure in developing countries would be worth $4.2 trillion over the lifetime of new infrastructure, with $4 benefit for each $1 invested. But this opportunity has a shelf life. We must act quickly or we will squander the last chance we have to put the world on a better growth path.