Infrastructure

7 July | New York, USA - As the international community reviews progress on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9 at the 2026 United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF), the International Road Federation (IRF) is contributing to a timely discussion on how resilient transport infrastructure and biodiversity objectives can be advanced together.

IRF Head of Advocacy and Outreach Alice Yiu participated in the hybrid side event, the Nexus of Transport Infrastructure and Biodiversity in SDG 9 and Beyond, co-hosted by the IRF, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low-Carbon Transport. The event brought together experts from the transport, conservation, finance and policy sectors to explore how infrastructure development can better support both economic growth and environmental resilience.

The discussion comes at an important moment as SDG 9 - focused on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation - is undergoing an in-depth review at HLPF 2026. Participants examined how transport and biodiversity objectives can be better aligned before 2030 while informing the design of future global development frameworks beyond the current Sustainable Development Goals.

Alice outlined IRF's commitment to the UN Decade of Sustainable Transport, its collaboration with WWF through the Greening Transportation Infrastructure Development (GRID) Integrated Program and the evolving role of the road sector in integrating biodiversity into infrastructure planning and delivery. She also addressed why biodiversity should be considered a core responsibility for road agencies and how nature-positive road design can strengthen the resilience, sustainability and long-term performance of transport networks.

The programme combines expert panel discussions with facilitated breakout sessions, where participants will develop recommendations in two areas: accelerating progress before 2030 and shaping integrated transport and biodiversity goals for the post-2030 agenda. These recommendations will contribute to ongoing discussions within the UN system and support broader consultations on a future Global Goal for Transport.

The event forms part of the Global Environment Facility-funded Greening Transportation Infrastructure Development (GRID) Integrated Program, an initiative that is strengthening collaboration between the transport and conservation communities.

Through this partnership, IRF continues to advocate for infrastructure policies that deliver safe, resilient and efficient transport systems while protecting and restoring natural ecosystems.