One of the greatest constants in the world is change. Sometimes, change is
incremental, but at other times, it can be monumental, instrumental, or even
disruptive. The world is grappling with a number of truly global challenges, such as meeting net zero, achieving more for less and improving societal outcomes. The infrastructure sector is vital for driving such changes and improvements forward.

At the first Global Leadership Forum (GLF) summit, much of the focus was on net zero, and this challenge remains. Another reoccurring theme, however, continued to emerge: how we can use technology and AI to supercharge progress, reduce waste, and improve project delivery. This inevitably led to global leaders asking how such technologies were going to affect not only the wider sector but also their own operations.

FIDIC has added a new procurement chapter to its award-winning Nature-Positive Infrastructure Playbook to further encourage and expand global recognition of nature-positive infrastructure approaches across the engineering, construction and infrastructure sector.

The new section on procurement, will set out how client-side actors – funders, developers, government departments and agencies, and contractors – can now incorporate significant content on nature-positive infrastructure into their procurement process project briefs and scopes of work, thereby ensuring that nature is front of mind during infrastructure planning and design, rather than an afterthought.

This report serves as a comprehensive guide, outlining the challenges we face and presenting actionable steps to bridge the sustainable infrastructure gap, addressing four key questions:  

• What is the gap in sustainable infrastructure?  
• What are the required changes in net zero sustainable infrastructure investment by region and sector?  
• What are the recommendations to close this gap?  
• What commitments has the GLF made to drive progress?  

This report is aimed at FIDIC stakeholders, members, infrastructure operators, clients and investors and considers the global infrastructure sector's role in influencing and reducing carbon emissions throughout infrastructure's lifecycle.  

It seeks to collate current best practice, considers the current challenges, next steps and opportunities and uses the significant expertise and influence of the GLF to drive real and lasting change. 

This report was prepared by FIDIC president Tony Barry and delves into the critical nexus between infrastructure development and its impact on climate change.  

This report highlights the detail and type of approach required if we are to develop a holistic approach to carbon measurement, reduction and management. 

This first survey for quarter two acts as a guide to trends in the sector. Below are some key findings. 

• Firms' overall finances are stable with a positive outlook both currently and 12 months into the future. 
• The engineering industry is currently felt to be on a stable but positive outlook and this improves in 12 months. The ability to maintain margins remains a problem currently and into the future. 
• There is significant positive demand for low carbon solutions, but funding still remains an issue. It is expected conditions will improve over the next 12 months.

FIDIC and WWF have joined forces to develop a first iteration of a playbook for 'nature-positive' infrastructure development to help drive change in this sector. Globally, there has been growing interest in the potential of nature-based solutions to complement, or in some cases even replace, traditional or 'grey' infrastructure.  

The playbook provides an insight into the global state of play and acts as a tool for supporting the implementation of nature-based solutions. It also represents the exciting starting point of a much more ambitious goal of creating a 'living playbook' that will continue to expand global recognition of nature-positive infrastructure approaches for years to come, as we progress towards new solutions and construction techniques that are truly nature-positive.