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A coalition of young engineering professionals and built environment organisations has released a new policy statement urging governments, financial institutions, and development partners to radically transform infrastructure systems to meet the demands of a climate-resilient, equitable, and sustainable future. The statement titled Joint Call for COP30: Holistic Action for Sustainable Infrastructure was launched at the official United Nations COP30 Side Event “Financing a Resilient Built Environment: Solutions for Infrastructure, Housing & Informal Settlements” that was held on 14 November 2025.
The built environment is critical to climate resilience, social equity, and environmental sustainability. Yet, despite growing awareness of climate risks and the urgent need for resilient infrastructure, current systems remain fragmented, underfunded, and vulnerable to climate risks, leaving many communities without essential services such as clean water, sanitation, energy, and transportation.
This policy statement outlines priority action areas and recommendations derived from youth-led consultations and global climate expertise. It urges alignment of infrastructure development with sustainable and cost-effective pathways that support economic growth, accelerate implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the UNFCCC, and build the skills and competencies needed for a just transition.
The policy statement is co-signed by World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO), Commonwealth Engineers’ Council (CEC), Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI), and the Engineering Leadership Group (ELG) – some of the leading organisations across the buildings and infrastructure sector – and is freely accessible to the public. The full statement can be accessed here.
The policy statement will form the basis of the work of the WFEO Young Engineers / Future Leaders Working Group on Climate Action over the coming year, with the aim to advocate for implementation with partners across the sector. We welcome all expressions of interest to partner with us in transforming the future of infrastructure.
This is more than a call to reform infrastructure, it is a call to reimagine it. By centering equity, resilience and systems thinking, we can build systems that not only withstand climate shocks but uplift communities. The future is being engineered now, and it must be built to last.