Plan infrastructure for a low-emission and resilient future

The transition towards low-emission, resilient economies presupposes far-reaching changes to infrastructure, technology and industrial systems that will require prudent planning. This chapter makes the case for improved planning practices as a prerequisite for successfully delivering on both climate and development objectives. It identifies barriers for implementing changes and emerging good practices in reconciling long-term climate and development objectives with near-term demand for infrastructure services. The chapter outlines three priority actions: develop new institutional configurations to align today’s decisions with long-term objectives, ensure that resilience to the impacts of climate change is a central component of planning, and harness the benefits of foresight to complement climate models in strategic planning.