'Infrastructure makes us freer': Deb Chachra

You could say it's one of the luxuries of modernity, one we often ignore. It's the infrastructure that has decisively and universally changed human life in recent decades.

More or less, that's what Olin College professor Deb Chachra argues in her book, How Infrastructure Works, chosen as one of the best texts of 2023 by Publishers Weekly.

For this engineer, a Canadian citizen, things like traveling on paved roads, using public transportation, enjoying clean water, being connected via a device, turning on the light, or cooking are all possible thanks to systems developed with the common good in mind. While some icons like bridges, tunnels, and buildings stand out, the vast majority of these networks go unnoticed.

According to the author, the advances achieved have freed most of the planet's inhabitants from tasks related to survival, unleashing a virtuous cycle. But the relative indifference toward such improvements means that needs such as maintenance are relegated to the background until emergencies arise.

And such an attitude becomes disturbing in light of climate change, which unleashes extreme weather events. Greater resilience is essential to avoid headaches that could include blackouts, rationing, or the breakdown of both physical and virtual communication channels.

These and other proposals will be made by Chachra this week on the occasion of the third infrastructure meeting, organized by the National Development Finance Corporation in Bogotá. Before traveling, the academic spoke with EL TIEMPO. This is the edited version of the interview.

How do you define the term infrastructure?

As the systems that allow us to do the things we want, without having to think about it too much. I explain this concept based on the experience of my family, who immigrated from India to Canada when I was a child. My ancestors, especially the women, spent a good part of their time searching for fuel for cooking or fetching water. Having electricity, being able to travel from one place to another, knowing what was happening in the world, learning new things, was a challenge for many of my ancient relatives. In short, infrastructure is what has changed our lives as human beings, for the better.

And that goes beyond what we usually believe?

Much more than roads and bridges, of course. Let's think about the physical and virtual networks we've created that make it easier for us to live in society, be more productive, and be healthier. But in my case, I focus more on public services, without forgetting the broader context.

Is it about meeting basic needs?

That's right, but there are also other vital ones that have to do with the freedom to do what we want. The curious thing is that we now take these advances for granted and render them almost invisible. Then we forget that systems require maintenance or improvement, only until they fail. That's when we realize the value of having access to what we consider natural, and we can appreciate, even for a moment, the progress made.

Where does your interest in the subject come from?

My father worked for years at a power plant, and perhaps that's what always caught my attention. But undoubtedly, the fact that I occasionally went to India on vacation and realized that things that seem commonplace in Canada, like 24-hour drinking water or uninterrupted electricity, made me realize how important it is to have these services and how fundamental they are for collective and personal development.

Infrastructure is what has changed our lives for the better as human beings (...). Much more than roads and bridges, no doubt.

He mentions multiple examples in his book…

I like to highlight what I describe as beautiful and elegant solutions. For example, a hydroelectric plant in Wales located in the heart of a mountain and that recycles much of the water it uses. I do this to show that there are ways to do things right.

You live in a rich country, but in much of the world there is still much to be done…

It's true. We believe that what differentiates one society from another is its average per capita income, but when it comes to individuals, what matters less is how much each person has in their bank account and more is what they've built collectively. What we call the Global North is more prosperous because it used resources to make joint investments. The wealth they possess is that of collective infrastructure systems. In emerging countries, the process is underway, but it requires several elements to succeed.

Political stability, trust, transparency, capacity for action, institutions, and a State that plays its role well.

The gap is still large. Can it be closed?

It's possible to do so more quickly in certain areas. For example, until about three decades ago, there were long waiting lists for landlines in low-income countries. With the arrival of cell phones, that problem quickly disappeared, and today billions of people are connected. Now, with electricity, something similar has begun to happen thanks to renewable technologies. Many places will be able to make the leap without having to rely on fossil fuels. This is happening in Pakistan, to cite one example, where solar panels are used to provide light to isolated communities.

What challenges do you identify?

Climate change is the most obvious. We know that atmospheric phenomena have become more extreme, so scenarios that seemed highly unlikely in the original design of many systems are now feasible. This requires us to review what we have, to build more resilient systems. And doing so is urgent, not least because adopting mitigation measures is much cheaper than waiting for things to fail, just to talk about the economic cost.

The first thing we need to understand is that when we talk about climate change, we're primarily referring to the impact that nature has on infrastructure systems. Therefore, a thorough risk analysis must be conducted, which ends up being specific to each site or sector, depending on individual characteristics. When justified, it's worthwhile to rely on local resources, whether for water or energy. And in general, it's important to incorporate the concept of sustainability, which includes adaptation to the environment.

One of the current realities is community involvement in infrastructure development, which often results in opposition to projects. How can we address this issue?

Any system that transfers resources from one place to another implicitly takes those resources from the place where they originate. In the past, this didn't matter because certain impacts were considered a cost that was usually borne by the weaker regions, in favor of urban centers. This approach led to excesses that resulted in major imbalances. Now the situation is different because there are mechanisms to protect rights and mitigate damage. It's true that certain solutions may cost a little more, but in the long term, this greater investment is more than recovered. It's key that local populations see the benefits of major initiatives to foster commitment and a sense of ownership.

What do you think about the presence of the private sector in the infrastructure sector?

The secret lies in good regulation, but experience shows that this isn't always the case. When the only incentive is to maximize profits without any checks and balances, problems begin. There's no doubt that this is a segment where natural monopolies are common, which can lead to excesses if there are no limits. I like the idea of ​​communities owning operations like water pipelines, so that there is a collective vision that truly puts the general interest before the individual. The State also has an important role in this area. What I propose goes as far as a cultural change that also gives weight to the non-monetary benefits that infrastructure systems bring.

How do you imagine the future?

I think the real breakthrough lies in energy, whose more or less intensive use determines whether a society is more prosperous or not. I see technological advances opening up the possibility that, in a world where matter is limited, energy can be unlimited. And that it can be generated sustainably, without polluting the atmosphere or extracting resources from certain locations. The most interesting thing is that such a scenario would serve to close the gaps that separate the north from the south.

What I see is a great opportunity, but it requires making the right decisions. I'm optimistic from a technological perspective, and less so from a human nature perspective. The challenge is understanding that we can act individually and collectively. Furthermore, we need to build more efficient, inclusive, and equitable systems. Achieving this transition should be the great task of our time. And that involves infrastructure.