The global landscape of transportation is on the cusp of an unprecedented expansion, with trillions of dollars in investment set to reshape how people and goods move across the planet over the next three decades. However, this massive build-out of roads, railways, and ports carries significant ecological risks that traditional planning and financial models have historically failed to address. In response to this challenge, the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD), in collaboration with WWF-US and a network of strategic partners, has announced a major initiative to develop new approaches for embedding nature-positive principles directly into the procurement processes of transport infrastructure.
The scale of the projected infrastructure boom is staggering. Current estimates suggest that by 2050, the world will see the construction of up to 4.7 million kilometers of new roads. Simultaneously, the global footprint of port areas is anticipated to quadruple. These developments are often framed as essential drivers of economic growth, providing the critical regional links necessary for trade, mobility, and poverty reduction. Yet, without a fundamental shift in how these projects are bought and built, this expansion threatens to accelerate habitat loss and deepen the isolation of wildlife populations, further destabilizing the ecosystems that support human life.
The core of the issue lies in the "how" of infrastructure development. Governments and development banks are the primary engines behind these massive projects, investing billions of dollars annually. Data from the World Bank underscores the central role of the public sector in this arena, revealing that in 2017, more than 80% of all investments in railways and roads were sponsored by public bodies and state-owned enterprises. This statistic highlights a critical lever for change: because the vast majority of these investments are channeled through public procurement processes, the rules and criteria set by government agencies and state-owned entities dictate the environmental standards for the entire industry.
Despite the significant influence of procurement, the IISD and its partners have identified a systemic gap. Current procurement processes are largely unoptimized to reduce impacts on biodiversity or to encourage the implementation of nature-based solutions. Traditionally, infrastructure procurement has been dominated by a focus on minimizing upfront capital costs and adhering to strict engineering timelines. While these factors are important, they often overlook the long-term ecological costs and the potential benefits of integrating natural elements into infrastructure design. By the time a project reaches the construction phase, the most significant opportunities to protect or enhance biodiversity have often already been lost.
To combat this systemic failure, the IISD is leading a project to build a comprehensive evidence base for nature-positive transport infrastructure procurement. The goal is to move beyond abstract environmental goals and provide a concrete blueprint for integrating biodiversity considerations across the entire procurement life cycle. This life cycle spans from the earliest stages of strategic planning and project preparation to the bidding process, contract management, and the eventual operation and maintenance of the asset.
