Case Studies on Integrating Ecosystem Services and Climate Resilience in Infrastructure Development: Lessons for Advocacy

With support from GIZ, WWF and Arup conducted a review of innovative practices across several regions of the world that integrate both ecosystem services and climate change projections in planning and design. With 60% of the land expected to be urbanized by 2030 yet to be built, alongside an estimated 25 million km of new roads by 2050, there is urgent need to identify and replicate practices that preserve ecosystem services, enhance climate resilience and mitigate the expected effects of climate change.

Reviewing more than 90 cases of infrastructure planning or design, this report presents three brief case studies in developing economies to highlight recent advancements in such integrated approaches: the Mexico water supply system, the LAPPSET development corridor and Lamu port in coastal Kenya, and the Shenzen sea wall. It also highlights a number of innovative examples in the US and UK as examples to learn from to inform improved infrastructure planning moving forward.