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Institute of Infrastructure AIIM Newsletter Vol. 1, Issue 1, March 2021 PERSPECTIVES Precursor to ICID 2021: Sustainability and Resilience INFRASTRUCTURE STRATEGY THEORY THEORY RESEARCH TEACHING TRAINING EVENT Y ETHICS CONSULTING OG TECHNOL THEORY INDEX Transport and Mobility 1 Preface 11 Systems – Issues of Sustainability Sustainable Urban 2 True Sustainable Education 14 Development – Challenges and Perspectives Social Infrastructure 3 Sustainability in HR 16 and Sustainability Sustainability and Measuring Bottom Lines Sustainable Infrastructure: 5 with Sustainable Returns 18 Challenges and Opportunities Ahead Financing Sustainable 9 Infrastructure Prepared by faculty members, students, and other stakeholders of Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management as a precursor to the International Conference on Infrastructure Development: Theory, Practice and Policy focusing on the theme of Sustainability and Resilience. All the given views are authors' personal ones. Any reproduction of materialfrom this compilation requires permission. Please write to Research and Publication Division at [email protected] for comments/suggestions/permissions. PREFACE consistently innovating to reduce costs and increase market penetration. The notion of resilience is the ability to resist, absorb, and recover quickly after a crisis. In the context of infrastructure, it would mean the ability of an infrastructure system to withstand unpredictable scenarios, minimise disruptions, and have short response times in resuming services. Examples Prof Rachna Gangwar include water, energy, and transport infrastructure Associate Professor (Transport & Public Policy) systems that are resilient in the face of accidents, Convener - ICID 2021 floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, extreme weather conditions, etc. Though unprecedented, the COVID 19 crisis offers unique insights and presents Sustainability is a ubiquitous yet elusive concept. challenges to resilience for the infrastructure sector. Though its genesis can be traced back to the early To make infrastructure systems more resilient, the 2 0 t h c e n t u r y w h e n c o n c e r n s ove r n a t u re project design, integration, sequencing, and conservation and preservation started gaining coordination must ensure that failing of one/part attention, it emerged as an international agenda only structure does not take down the whole system. This after the 1972 United Nations conference. The far- would be possible in practice only when the reaching consequences of the growth model of most infrastructure systems are made up of smaller, self- nations, particularly the developed countries, were sustained, integrated pieces and parts instead of a seen to be unfavorable. Mahatma Gandhi’s often few large projects. This also means that designing quoted response when asked about India attaining the infrastructure systems and networks to be the same standard of living as Britain, “It took Britain resilient might need an unconventional approach. half the resources of the planet to achieve this To discuss the nuances and complexities around prosperity. How many planets will a country like India sustainability and resilience in infrastructure require!” truly reflected the unsustainability of the development, the Adani Institute of Infrastructure growth model. Management (AIIM) is organising an international In a united effort to achieve sustainable development conference on Infrastructure Development: Theory, globally, the 193 Member States of the UN adopted 17 Practice and Policy on April 29-30, 2021 on the theme sustainable development goals in 2015. These goals of sustainability and resilience. The conference will call for a development model that must balance the 3 bring researchers, practitioners, policy makers and pillars (social, economic, and environmental) of thinktanks who are engaged in making infrastructure sustainability. Social sustainability refers to impact of development practices sustainable and infrastructure development on people and communities. Economic systems more resilient and robust together. sustainability refers to practices that contribute to the As a precursor to the conference, we present to you, long-term economic growth with the least amount of perspectives on various domains of infrastructure resource use and environmental harm. Environmental sectors as put together by the various Centres of sustainability is about acting in a way that minimises Excellence of AIIM. These are aligned to various tracks negative effects on environment. of the conference. The Centre of Surface and Air In this context, sustainability in various domains of Transport (C-SAT) brings out relevant perspectives on infrastructure will strive to adopt technologies that are sustainability in transport and mobility systems. Issues nature-friendly and less resource intensive (renewable around financing sustainable infrastructure are energy, green buildings, mass rapid transit systems, presented by the Centre of Excellence in Finance and electric vehicles, etc.), business practices that bring the Risk Management (CFRM). Perspectives on the sustainability in forefront of all actions, and government development of energy and green infrastructure are policies that reward sustainable practices. The biggest presented by the Centre of Excellence in Energy (CEE). challenge faced in embracing sustainable practices by The Centre of Excellence in Urban and Real Estate enterprises and individuals is the higher cost of Development (CURED) presents insights on production and financial viability. For example, organic sustainability in urban and real estate infrastructure. (sustainable) products will not become mainstream until Perspectives on issues around making the social their prices are comparable to other products. This is infrastructure sustainable are presented by the Centre possible by research & development, and/or government for Social Infrastructure. support that brings the cost of production down for Sustainability and resilience are no longer an option companies and consumers. Successful examples are but a priority. We look forward to enriching renewable energy and electric vehicles that are discussions at the conference! 1 True Sustainable Education Prof. Devang Desai Dean, Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management Educating means first learning and then teaching. imperatives, sense of fairness, ethics and innovative Learning comes from observing how individuals and implementation of complex infrastructure projects. communities care for continuity in a wholesome We combine the rich learnings of infrastructure manner. The best lessons come from those who practitioners, consultants, academicians, and have faced adversity, scarcity and inequality. Their regulators while outlining the concepts and actuated ideas of value, group behaviour and practices. We have established COEs around the key nurturing are admirable goals to be pursued. infrastructure sectors and through its multifold At, Adani Institute of Infrastructure Management activities, the subtle nuances of the policy impacts (AIIM), the emphasis is on building the nation are learned. They address the challenging issues of through sustainable Infrastructure learnings. economic growth with its social cost-benefit Infrastructure and welfare are closely linked, and understandings. The topics of climate change, real prosperity is achieved when people appreciate culture diversity, people-machine roles and the complex process of sustainable infrastructure development world imperatives are debated at building. various forums. Sustainability embedding is very crucial when a Our carefully structured ‘Infrastructure LAB’ nation with a large population needs transfor- initiative provides hands-on learning of the real- mational changes in planning its cities, trans- world and imparts the larger life aspects of health, portation and energy needs. safety, governance, and environmental care while We, at AIIM, have focused on teaching the complex planning Infrastructure developments. issues of Infrastructure Management. Our course Our initiative of ‘Innovation Hub’ provides takes the learners through the multi-disciplinary opportunities to young minds to learn from start- attributes of infrastructure, its many regulatory ups and harness entrepreneurial enthusiasm. dimensions and absorption of the commonalities Ensconced in the green township at ‘Shantigram’, and uniqueness of the Infrastructure sectors. AIIM practices what it teaches in terms of care for Our learners at AIIM are taught the importance of its people, surroundings and nature conservation. long-term vision and framework approach blending ESG, Tripple bottom reportings, people-PRO policies theory, practice and policy. The manager must learn are driven by our deep value systems of courage, the art of balancing the private drive and efficiency trust and commitment. with public good and compassion. At AIIM, we work to live the virtues of a sustainable With its far-reaching impact, interdependencies, existence. diverse stakeholders and public answerability, Infrastructure Management requires differen- tiating managerial competencies. We emphasis the art, science and technology of persuasion, people priority, resource optimisation, partnering 2 Sustainability in HR Mr. Vikram Tandon Group Chief Human Resources Officer Adani Group Sustainability focuses on meeting the needs of the there has been added emphasis on the organisation present without compromising the ability of future to put ethics and sustainability over profit