Infrastructure is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss. For example, 95% of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is within 5 km of a road. Infrastructure also contributes approximately 79% of global greenhouse gas emissions, with most associated with energy, buildings and transport. There is increasing recognition that the two greatest challenges of our time – climate change and biodiversity loss – cannot be meaningfully addressed without a fundamental shift in how we conceptualise, design and construct our infrastructure. This brings to the fore the question: can we develop our infrastructure in a way that supports and restores ecosystem health and biological diversity, helps our societies adapt to climate change and enables our journey to net zero?

Otiginally published here