India-UK launch infrastructure resilience project for small island nations

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson has launched the initiative Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP26) in Glasgow.

Briefing about the programme, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had earlier said, " You have a special session that would be the launch of the initiative for the Resilient Island States (IRIS), which is essentially part of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects especially in small island developing states that would also involve in some senses, setting up norms and standards for resilient infrastructure."

During the press briefing, Shringla said that the "Prime Minister has pointed out that, in many cases, lives are lost, but livelihoods and entire infrastructure, housing, everything that is to do with infrastructure is lost with cyclones, etc. Especially small island states and coastal areas the vulnerable to these ravages of climate change. And this is an effort to try and equip countries that are particularly vulnerable to these effects of climate change."

He added, "In the afternoon, we have an event which is called accelerating clean technology, innovation and deployment. Prime Minister Johnson hosts this, and essentially, PM Johnson and PM Modi will launch another initiative called "One World One Sun, One Grid".

"Green Grid", which is a UK initiative, and "One World One Sun One Grid", which is the initiative from the National Solar Alliance proposed by India, would both be jointly launched as a new initiative and essentially seek to promote connectivity through solar grids across the world.

Referring to another initiative, Shringla said, "There is another initiative, which is hosted by the US president Joe Biden on infrastructure development, Build Back Better, which is also considered linked to the development of resilient infrastructure. The Prime Minister will participate in that initiative as well."

The COP26 is taking place under the Presidency of the UK, partnering with Italy. The high-level segment of COP26 is titled the World Leaders' Summit (WLS), and the Summit has participation by heads of State/Government of over 120 countries.

(ANI)