The Global Infrastructure Outlook estimates that the world needs infrastructure investments of USD 81.8 trillion between 2020 and 2040. The investment gap between necessary investments and the projects that will be built could reach USD 15 trillion by then. Connectivity infrastructure projects enable the linkage of communities and economies across borders, which are essential to increase investment, boost mobility and trade, reduce inequalities and improve people’s livelihood.

In the meantime, the world is also facing another transboundary challenge of climate change, which can only be tackled by collective effort of all countries. The urgency of addressing climate change and its catastrophic consequence is calling for climate-smart infrastructures, which must be low-carbon and/or resilient to withstand the shocks from climate change.  The post COVID-19 recovery also brings about a golden opportunity to build back a better world – more resilient, more inclusive, and lower carbon.

Against such a backdrop the Multilateral Cooperation Center for Development Finance (MCDF) is organizing a seminar co-sponsored by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the World Resource Institute (WRI) on Financing for Climate Smart Connectivity to promote communication and collaboration.

The inaugural seminar will (i) share policies, practice, and new research on climate-smart connectivity investments; (ii) present practical recommendations to mainstream climate change mitigation opportunities and adaptation practice in connectivity investment; (iii) identify areas for further innovation and research.