ICE representatives met with John O’Dowd MLA to talk about infrastructure's role in supporting communities, the economy and essential services.
Infrastructure resilience and the importance of promoting biodiversity were subjects of discussion at a recent meeting between the ICE and Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd MLA.
Representatives from ICE Northern Ireland and ICE President Prof Anusha Shah met with the minister to explore infrastructure’s role in helping to address the climate and nature emergency.
They talked about how infrastructure supports communities, the economy and essential services, and that it connects us with the natural environment and other people.
The meeting focused on a recent ICE report looking at how Northern Ireland can become more resilient to climate change.
Resilient infrastructure
Having resilient infrastructure is becoming increasingly important in the face of extreme weather events caused by climate change.
This is emphasised by the ever-more interconnected and interdependent nature of infrastructure networks.
The recent ICE report examines infrastructure progress and takes stock of the impacts of extreme weather events.
The report also looks at good practice and makes six recommendations for infrastructure policy makers, stakeholders and professionals.
It highlights that action must be taken now.
To make infrastructure more resilient, behaviours must change, but the solutions are already there.
Chris Caves, ICE Fellow
Biodiversity – The relationship between nature and infrastructure
During the meeting, Prof Shah led discussions on the importance of promoting biodiversity to help address the climate and nature emergency.
She emphasised her theme for her presidential year: nature- and people positive solutions.
She highlighted that it’s time for civil and infrastructure engineers to better understand the inter-relationship between infrastructure and nature – and do more.
Building assets which do less harm to our natural world is not good enough anymore. To put it simply, we don’t have an option but to be nature-positive.
Our infrastructure needs to interact with nature in a way which is restorative and regenerative, rather than extractive.
Not only will we reach net zero faster, we’ll also improve climate resilience and reap multiple benefits for our society and the planet.
Prof Anusha Shah
Minister O’Dowd discussed his department’s work in this area.
This includes the ‘No Mow May’ initiative, which seeks to promote biodiversity along grass verges, and the development of active travel plans.
Opportunity is there
ICE NI chair, Brenda O’Loan, has raised the urgent need to focus on infrastructure resilience.
While there are many valid and competing priorities that the NI Executive must consider, action is needed now to address the huge challenges in front of us. Particularly climate change.
Like many places, Northern Ireland isn’t immune to summer season challenges.
Reservoir levels have dropped significantly in some years and hose pipe bans have been put in place. Achieving net zero carbon emissions must go hand-in-hand with a focus on infrastructure resilience.
“Northern Ireland is unique in size and scale, with strength and depth of expertise. Collaborating more to drive collective action should be well within our grasp,” O’Loan said.
Download ICE NI’s infrastructure resilience report
Sustainable Development Goals:
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