Emerging Trends in Infrastructure

All at one time, we want to change our energy mix, our climate, our economies, our global trade patterns, our cities, our technology and our social equity. And we plan to do it all against a backdrop of a non-stationary environment, divisive geopolitical rhetoric and deep economic uncertainty. It is a mammoth task.

Humanity’s success or failure will largely rest on the shoulders of our infrastructure. Infrastructure will be central to the energy transition and achieving our climate adaptation goals. It catalyzes economic growth and facilitates trade. It underpins urban renewal, lays the foundations for digital transformation and — when done well — can help embed social equity.

To achieve this we need to change (and improve) the way we plan, fund, develop and operate our infrastructure. It will require collaboration, new funding mechanisms, innovative regulatory regimes, new construction techniques, broader skill sets and — more than anything — a high degree of flexibility and creativity. Business as usual is not an option. Countries, territories, cities and corporates have to reinvent themselves as well as up-skill and innovate to meet the emerging changes and potential opportunities. Enabling the world’s transitions, therefore, must start with a transition in the infrastructure sector.

As always, we hope that this edition of Emerging Trends in Infrastructure inspires readers to think differently about the challenges facing humanity and the opportunities and solutions that could be created by the infrastructure sector to achieve our collective goals.