Aberdeen-based global engineering group Wood plc said it has formed a partnership with insurance giant AIG and the University of Strathclyde’s Institute for Future Cities to help cities and businesses adapt to the impacts of climate change and achieve a successful transition to a low-carbon economy.
“The partnership between Wood, AIG and the University of Strathclyde under the United Nations SDG 17 will see the three organisations work together to create a roadmap around building more sustainable infrastructure and driving down carbon emissions,” said Wood.
“AIG will deliver insurance solutions, risk management expertise, and financial services to insure and fund resilient infrastructure and transformative renewable energy projects.
“Wood will apply their scientific and engineering expertise to design and construct the new and improved infrastructure required to unlock economic growth and protect critical resources.
“The University of Strathclyde’s Institute for Future Cities will apply its holistic approaches to resilient and sustainable urban development to create balanced strategies that understand the complexities and differences of cities, including their systems, challenges, and futures.
“AIG and Wood have previously combined their collective expertise to develop the Infrastructure Resilience and Energy Transition Framework which was publicly endorsed by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) at their 2019 Bridge for Cities 4.0 event.
“As a key step in the partnership, AIG, Wood and the University of Strathclyde’s Institute for Future Cities will collaborate on a series of events to be held in Glasgow at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26.
“Together, they will explore how Glasgow and other cities can integrate effective climate risk mitigation into their energy transition plans and resilience strategies.”
Joe Sczurko, Executive President of Wood’s Consulting business, said: “Achieving the Group of Seven (G7) leaders’ bold vision for a net-zero future and effectively tackling the impacts of climate change require collaborative partnerships to drive innovation, deliver transformational value, and create a more sustainable future.
“We are delighted to partner with AIG and the University of Strathclyde to create bold, differentiated solutions that will forge the path to global carbon neutrality and help shape the resilience of critical infrastructure.
“Our partnership demonstrates the power of collaborating across multiple sectors and with a broad range of stakeholders to drive sustainable and resilient solutions.”
Rhodri Williams, Head of International Public Policy at AIG, said: “The partnership combines AIG’s risk expertise and the insurance solutions it provides to low-carbon energy and resilient infrastructure projects with Wood’s leading engineering solutions and the Institute for Future Cities’ holistic sustainability strategies and international relationships.
“As cities and corporations worldwide face increased pressure to reduce carbon emissions, our work will help advance sustainability efforts that will have significant impact into the future.”
Richard Bellingham, Director, Institute for Future Cities at the University of Strathclyde, said: “Cities have a leading role to play in tackling and in responding to the challenges of climate change.
“We are privileged to be working in partnership with leading cities from the Global North and Global South to help meet their priorities and accelerate progress – including Strathclyde’s home city and COP26 host, Glasgow.
“In the spirit of the UN SDGs, AIG, Wood, Strathclyde, and our partner cities are creating a strong and diverse partnership between business, cities, communities, and innovative research institutions with the ability to deliver real and swift progress.
“We will seek to realise quick wins that balance the needs of cities, communities and businesses. We and our partners recognise that we need to be in this for the long term, achieving net zero will require significant application of resources and determination to transform all sectors.”