Systemic Perspectives on National Infrastructure for a Sustainable, Resilient Net Zero Future

Abstract

All aspects of Modern life are infrastructure-enabled. National infrastructure (NI) simultaneously: supports the realisation of societally beneficial outcomes; and determines the level of GHG emissions; air, water, noise pollution; production of solid waste and sewage. Therefore, all sustainability and resilience challenges are interdependent emergent properties arising directly or indirectly from National Infrastructure. NI is a systemically, societally, economically, globally significant leverage point. The systemic transformation of NI into a net zero enabling, resilience enhancing, sustainability supporting system is urgently needed to catalyse the speed, scale and breadth of synergistic action needed to achieve Net zero and tackle other sustainability and resilience challenges. Systemic perspectives on, and systemic characterisations of, NI; its societal purpose; and the interdependent mechanisms that enable NI to fulfil its purpose are needed to support the required systemic transformation. This paper provides these.

Revolutionizing U.S. Pavement Infrastructure: A pathway to sustainability and resilience through nanotechnology and AI Innovations

“…Sustainability tackles environmental, social and economic challenges via resource optimization and the mitigating of negative impacts directed to nature and communities (Lawson et al, 2020). Stakeholders can build up more responsive systems that not only survive disturbances and disruptions but also preserve the functionality and value for the society by incorporating sustainable practices into infrastructure planning and design (Dolan, 2021).…”

Dolan, Tom; (2024) COP28 and The First Global Stocktake: Personal Reflections on an Affirmational, Inspirational and Disappointing Experience and an Opportunity Missed

“…Specifically, it strengthened my belief that: the Climate emergency is a Wicked Problem of problems; the inevitable long term consequence of a deeply embedded, but erroneous Not Zero mindset regarding GHG, and other polluting, emissions as externalities for which the polluter need not pay [8]; a successful response to the climate emergency will require transformation of the systems from which it has emerged; the unprecedented speed, scale and breadth of systemic transformation required will need, fit for purpose system goals, rules, processes, structures and approaches to governance all explicitly aligned with a Net Zero mindset [2] [9]. Additionally, it will be necessary to launch a Moonshot Mission tasked with establishing a diverse long-term, collaborative, dynamic, multi-faceted, multi-scale, cradle-to-cradle and synergistic portfolio of systemically targeted interventions [2]. Infrastructure systems with the qualities prioritised in UKCRIC's Scientific Missions for Infrastructure systems [9] [10] are nationally significant, globally replicable, leverage points [11], with a critical role to play in any successful global response to the climate emergency, not least by providing a systemically resilient foundation upon which wider societal resilience to the impacts of Global Warming can be built [12].…”

“…Additionally, it will be necessary to launch a Moonshot Mission tasked with establishing a diverse long-term, collaborative, dynamic, multi-faceted, multi-scale, cradle-to-cradle and synergistic portfolio of systemically targeted interventions [2]. Infrastructure systems with the qualities prioritised in UKCRIC's Scientific Missions for Infrastructure systems [9] [10] are nationally significant, globally replicable, leverage points [11], with a critical role to play in any successful global response to the climate emergency, not least by providing a systemically resilient foundation upon which wider societal resilience to the impacts of Global Warming can be built [12].…”

“…This experience was simultaneously inspiring, affirmational, troubling and disappointing. Overall, it strengthened my belief in the conclusions emerging from my UKCRIC and C-DICE research [2] but did little to assuage my nagging doubts regarding the overall efficacy of the COP process [3].…”