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Critical Infrastructure Resilience: A Matter of Human Security

August 22, 2025 | Activity

Critical infrastructure and essential resources such as water and energy are at the heart of people-centered security, shaping the well-being and resilience of societies – however they are increasingly transformed, and at times threatened, by emerging technologies. In this context, ParlAmericas hosted a second virtual session in the lead-up to the X Summit of the Americas, Security in the Age of Emerging Technologies, which gathered parliamentarians and experts from across the Americas and Caribbean to explore how governance can keep pace with these evolving risks.

Through a panel discussion and open dialogue with parliamentarians, this virtual session explored the intersection of water and energy security with climate and technological risks, emphasizing that neglecting one dimension can exacerbate vulnerabilities in others. Carolina Delgado Ramírez, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica and ParlAmericas Board Member, moderated the session and underscored the urgent need for coordinated solutions that enhance the resilience of critical infrastructure, in particular to adapt to the growing demand for energy.

Discussions focused on strategies to strengthen legislation and governance frameworks, highlighting the need for an anticipatory, inclusive, and sustainable approach to policy development. Monica Sanders, founder of The Undivide Project, championed the importance of grounding national legislation in reliable, up-to-date data on infrastructure risks and population vulnerabilities, and aligning it with international agreements and frameworks.

Claude Guay, Canadian Member of Parliament and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, stressed the importance of coordinated action among domestic and international actors—including governments, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and infrastructure operators—to build resilience. He specifically highlighted cybersecurity, drawing attention to the increasing vulnerability of critical infrastructure to external threats posed by cyberattacks. Building on the theme of regional coordination, Mark Lambrides, Director of the Department of Sustainable Development at the Organization of American States (OAS), underscored the strategic importance of integrated water resources management in protecting infrastructure and highlighted the OAS’s efforts to promote regional cooperation on water security risks.

Parliamentarians and experts emphasized that infrastructure resilience must be people-centered, taking into account the vulnerabilities of those most affected by service disruptions—particularly rural communities, women, and Indigenous populations. Underscoring this point, the Honourable Leo Cato, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Grenada and Vice-President for the Caribbean of the ParlAmericas Open Parliament Network, reflected on the severe impacts of Hurricane Beryl on Grenada’s infrastructure and the resulting hardships faced by its citizens.

This event, as part of ParlAmerica’s series for parliamentarians in the lead-up to the X Summit of the Americas, featured updates in the process and discussions on the security-related themes chosen for the high-level meeting to be held in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, in December. Rubén Silié Valdez, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, in his capacity as the National Coordinator for the Summit, shared his vision that the Summit would result in a Declaration that will focus on concrete and unifying commitments for a secure and prosperous hemisphere. He noted the upcoming Summit Implementation Review Group (SIRG) meeting in September, to be held in Washington, D.C., would convene member states for further negotiations on this outcome document. Maria Celina Conte, Director of the Summits of the Americas Secretariat at OAS, reminded participants of the crucial role of parliamentary support in implementing Summit commitments. She highlighted the continuity between the current Summit’s themes and previous commitments, citing the ongoing Regional Agenda for Digital Transformation—adopted at the Ninth Summit—as a key framework for advancing cybersecurity and protecting critical infrastructure across the hemisphere.

Recognizing the urgency and interconnectedness of today’s security challenges with regional peace, prosperity and the wellbeing of citizens, and reaffirming the vital role of parliamentary collaboration, Senator Iván Flores of Chile, President of ParlAmericas, used the opportunity presented by this session to publicly announce the creation of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network on Hemispheric Security, which had been formally adopted by ParlAmericas’ governance body the day prior. This new initiative will create a space for continuous dialogue on security issues as a priority theme for parliamentary cooperation in the hemisphere. The platform demonstrates ParlAmericas’ commitment to evolving with emerging challenges and actively contributing to the creation of a more inclusive, sustainable, and democratic region.

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This activity was made possible with the support of the Government of Canada, through Global Affairs Canada.