Evaluating Resilient Infrastructure Systems : Task Force 3 Infrastructure Investment and Financing

The socio-economic costs of infrastructure damage and lost functionality that follow natural disasters, including climate change or a major attack, are much larger than the cost of improving infrastructure resiliency to typical events and properly maintaining it. The critical review of selected case studies presented in this policy brief shows that it is both possible and desirable to evaluate resilience. Focusing on transportation and logistic issues and building on the issues outlined in the T20 policy brief Building resilient infrastructure systems in 2019 (ADBI 2020), this policy brief: (i) advocates the urgent need to include a systematic review of the integration of resilience into cost-benefit analyses and use of other economic appraisal methodologies for infrastructure projects, and (ii) recommends prioritizing public and private investment in infrastructure projects proven to be resilient and projects that adapt existing assets to risks, thus improving their resilience.