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NEWS: Coastal wetlands are unable to adapt to the rate of sea-level rise and are constrained by infrastructure

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Wetlands, precious ecosystems that shield coastlines, safeguard drinking water from saltwater contamination, and nourish diverse wildlife, face a dire threat from the accelerating pace of sea-level rise, driven by global warming. Wetlands have historically adapted to rising sea levels by expanding upward and inland. However, predictions indicate that the waterline will soon shift far too rapidly for wetlands to keep pace. Consequently, future decades may witness the tragic loss of these vital wetland ecosystems. Wetlands along coastlines have historically played valuable roles for people and wildlife, but are now facing the threat of sea-level rise. As temperatures rise, sea levels are rising at an accelerating rate, and wetlands are unable to keep pace by building upward and migrating inland. This is due to human-induced climate change and the burning of fossil fuels, which has warmed the oceans and melted glaciers. Sea levels are now rising at about 10 millimeters per year, and are
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Why are infrastructure leaders not optimistic about increase on spending despite Coronavirus?

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Despite the fact that social infrastructure and water projects, such as clean water and wastewater operations, are identified as top priorities from private and public sector entities from around the world, a new CG/LA Infrastructure survey shows that global industry leaders are not hopeful about an increase in infrastructure spending following the worldwide spread of the coronavirus.

Why are infrastructure leaders not optimistic about increase in spending on infrastructure and water projects despite the Coronavirus pandemic?

Coronavirus to Cause Decrease in Spending on Infrastructure and Water Projects:
In its “Global Infrastructure Industry Survey,” CG/LA Infrastructure found only 5% believe that investment will “increase significantly” following the pandemic, a sharp decline from 34% before the crisis. In total, only 27% believe that infrastructure investment would increase or increase significantly — a drop from 71% when asked previously.

Prior to the crisis, only 10% of respondents thought infrastructure investment would decrease (7%), or decrease significantly (3%), but now a majority (52%) believe that infrastructure investment will decline (34%) or decline significantly (18%).

“The data shows that the outbreak of covid-19 cases worldwide has essentially put a halt to infrastructure investment globally,” said Norman Anderson, Chairman & CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure. “It’s clear that more has to be done — whether it is building more hospitals or schools, or other key projects delivering high quality benefits such as clean water and irrigation systems — particularly in developing countries. Given that infrastructure needs to be a driver of the global economic recovery, obviously these results are deeply troubling.”

A critical theme emerging from the survey is that 82% of respondents view infrastructure as a weak or average brand. Only 18% identified infrastructure as a strong brand – the vast majority saw it as problematic, or characterized by incompetence and, especially, chronic corruption.

Overall, given the lack of public trust in the infrastructure brand, there is an urgent need to address emerging markets infrastructure. Other findings include 28% selected social infrastructure (i.e. new hospitals and schools) as their top priority, with 55% listing it as one of their top three priorities. Clean water was highlighted as the top priority by 14% and was included in a top three priority by 48% of respondents. Transit and highways (12%) and wastewater (11%) were other top areas cited as in need of investment.

The Global Infrastructure Industry Survey was conducted from March 19 to 30 and sent to more than 13,000 global respondents in engineering/construction, finance, public sector, and technology fields. 

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