Getting Resilience Right From The Start: Insights From India
In April 2026, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), in collaboration with the Department of Economic Affairs, released Mainstreaming Disaster Resilience into Infrastructure Projects: Insights from Infrastructure Sectors in India[1].
The report highlights the need for resilience integration across India’s infrastructure sectors and addresses the growing risks posed by climate change and extreme weather, which are generating significant economic losses. In India, disasters account for up to 2% of GDP losses each year and can reduce government revenues by as much as 12%, posing a serious threat to long‑term growth and public finances in a quickly industrialising country.
Focusing on the roads, railways, and power sectors, the report identifies gaps that continue to limit the effective integration of disaster resilience. A central message of the report is that resilience must be designed into infrastructure from the outset, rather than treated as an afterthought introduced only after assets are damaged or services disrupted. This shift toward resilience by design is positioned as essential to protecting infrastructure investments and ensuring long‑term service continuity.
A global concern for practitioners
This challenge extends far beyond India. Events such as wildfires, floods, and droughts are increasingly disrupting global infrastructure systems and creating challenges around asset design, location and longevity. Infrastructure that was not designed with future climate conditions in mind is becoming increasingly exposed, resulting in higher recovery costs, longer outages, and long-term operational impacts[2].
Beyond direct physical damage to infrastructure, severe weather impacts also act as a threat multiplier, disrupting food and water systems, placing pressure on supply chains, increasing social and economic vulnerabilities, and contributing to instability and unrest that can further increase organisational and societal risk.
BCI research shows that climate change and extreme weather rank among the most significant concerns for business continuity and resilience professionals. The BCI Horizon Scan Report 2025[3] found that extreme weather events were the leading cause of disruption over the previous 12 months, marking the first time they have topped the list since 2017. Interviewees highlighted that infrastructure not originally designed to withstand extreme weather, often compounded by energy or cooling constraints, can significantly increase operational disruption.
Looking ahead five to ten years, 40.7% of respondents identified climate risk as a significant concern for organisations. Practitioners pointed to the impact of hurricanes, floods, and heatwaves on facilities, infrastructure and supply routes, highlighting the need to reassess how assets are planned, designed and maintained.
To address these challenges, practitioners could consider conducting up-to-date audits not only of their own premises but also of climate‑related risks affecting global suppliers, transport routes and supporting infrastructure. These assessments can inform design stage decisions and long‑term investment planning in organisations, ensuring climate risks are integrated into resilience planning.
Launching on Monday 18 May 2026, our free BCAW+R live webinar programme brings together industry experts to share insights, strategies and real‑world perspectives, including a dedicated day focused on strengthening resilience to climate change and severe weather. Book your place now.
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About the author
Rebecca Mathews
The BCI
