As the backbone of modern society, infrastructure must not only endure these shocks but adapt and evolve to meet them. That’s where ISO 22372:2025 comes in, a new International Standard designed to help organizations strengthen the resilience of essential services through a systems-based, collaborative approach.
“Countries need to switch from being reactive to disasters and using limited strategies for security, protection and safety for infrastructure resilience,” says Prof. Liz Varga CBE, Project Leader for the standard’s development. “A proactive approach that strengthens collaboration, develops foresight through information exchange, and builds adaptive capabilities to prevent, detect, minimize and recover from inevitable residual disruptions, is urgently needed.”
According to the UNDRR 2024 Annual Report, disasters are draining the global economy with estimated losses of more than USD 300 billion every year, not to mention the even larger indirect costs. Meanwhile, the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2025 ranks extreme weather, ecosystem collapse and infrastructure failure among the most serious long-term threats to our future.
Developed by technical committee ISO/TC 292, Security and resilience, with the contribution of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), ISO 22372 provides practical guidance for planning, maintaining and improving infrastructure resilience across sectors and borders.
The standard is built on the UNDRR Principles for Resilient Infrastructure, ensuring alignment with broader global initiatives such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 9.
“ISO 22372 provides a global framework that supports the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030,” says Abhilash Panda, UNDRR Deputy Chief, Intergovernmental processes, Interagency cooperation and Partnerships Branch, “ensuring resilience is embedded in every infrastructure decision, from national policies and investment pipelines to the design, construction and operation of critical systems.”
The new standard marks a shift from reactive responses to proactive strategies, emphasizing foresight, collaboration and adaptability. It provides tools to assess vulnerabilities, understand infrastructure interdependencies, and make risk‑informed investments that reduce long‑term costs and disruption.
With this globally recognized framework, decision-makers can shape policies and strategies that make infrastructure not only stronger, but also smarter, safer and more resilient.