High Commission of India in Canada

Ottawa

PRESS RELEASE

August 5, 2021

India Welcomes Canada to the International Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure

Ottawa, ON – India has officially welcomed Canada as the latest member of the International Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Canada's decision to join this Coalition comes at a crucial juncture as the world focuses on global resilience and recovery, following the collective global experience of managing the ravages of the current pandemic.

India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar has thanked Canada’s Minister for Infrastructure & Communities Catherine McKenna for Canada’s strong support to the CDRI initiative and welcomed Canada as a valued and trusted partner in the coalition.  Minister McKenna has said that as we build back better from COVID-19, we need to build disaster resilient infrastructure and the CDRI has a significant role in this effort.  She said she looked forward to exchanging views with Coalition members.

The CDRI was launched in September 2019 by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York. Since its launch, the coalition has emerged as an important institution to promote resilience of new and existing infrastructure systems against disaster risks through partnerships between national governments, UN agencies and other multilateral bodies. The CDRI now brings together twenty-two countries, four international partners and two private sector organizations as its members.

“In light of our shared challenges in managing the current pandemic, India is delighted to welcome Canada to a distinguished group of international partners committed to partnership and innovation,” said Ajay Bisaria, High Commissioner of India. “These partnerships will help ensure countries around the globe are better prepared to face international and domestic disasters of the future, including climate change, through mutual infrastructure and systems collaboration.”

India looks forward to benefit from Canada's presence in the CDRI in furthering action on one of the most significant challenges that humanity faces today – climate change.

Canada and India are among the major countries to have accepted the reality of climate change and put in place strong and committed actions towards mitigating the impact of climate change risks. Both countries are major contributors towards achieving targets that will help mitigate the impact of climate change globally. Through this platform, India and Canada, along with other like-minded countries, will be able to synergize their individual efforts and domestic experiences globally, especially to benefit developing nations in Africa and the Caribbean.

QUOTES

“People around the world are feeling the profound effects of climate change. From forest fires in Canada, to flooding in Europe to extreme heat in India, the impacts of a changing climate are real and significant. Canada recognizes the need to join India and countries from around the globe to build a world that is more resilient to the impacts of climate change. As we build back better from COVID-19, we need to build disaster resilient infrastructure and the Coalition has a significant role in this collective effort. As Canada’s representative on the Governing Board of the Coalition, I look forward to sharing Canada’s experience in developing disaster resilient infrastructure with Coalition members, and to learning from them. We’re all in this together.” - Hon'ble Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities.

“Canada’s entry into the CDRI represents not just a newer dimension of the bilateral strategic partnership but also underlines India and Canada’s common interest in taking resolute climate action. It is through our collective expertise, knowledge and experience that this coalition can come together to provide realistic and sustainable solutions to protect our future generations." - HE Ajay Bisaria, High Commissioner of India to Canada.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Mr. C. Gurusubramanian

Spokesperson for the High Commission of India, Ottawa

Email : pic.ottawa@mea.gov.in

Tel.  613 744 7834