Abstract
China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), announced in 2013, is an unprecedented mega-project that aims to improve connectivity between China and over 70 countries through infrastructure investment and regional cooperation. It has unparalleled potential to bring about positive economic development across vast regions of the world but, at the same time, may inevitably come with considerable environmental challenges. Even so, opportunities exist to prevent or mitigate environmental risks and realize China’s promise of a green BRI. China has proposed to construct a green BRI. The existing environmental law framework of host states, green development practices by China and BRI participating countries, and the role of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) as well as multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) all increase the odds of a green BRI. This article contributes to existing BRI-related literature by examining the environmental challenges and opportunities of the BRI and providing suggestions on building a comprehensive environmental protection mechanism. It is suggested to stringently implement environmental norms and green BRI policies, make greater use of BITs and MEAs, bring together various actors, mobilize all available resources, and establish an efficient environmental dispute settlement and environmental remediation system.
Highlights
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), encompassing the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road, is a large-scaled economic and geopolitical strategy launched by China in 2013, aiming to facilitate trade and promote connectivity and cooperation among countries in Eurasia and some African countries
BRI participating countries, and the role of bilateral investment treaties (BITs) as well as multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) all increase the odds of a green BRI
The World Bank Study concludes that BRI transport infrastructure is estimated to increase carbon dioxide emissions by 0.3 percent worldwide—but by seven percent or more in countries like Cambodia, Kyrgyz Republic, and Lao PDR as production expands in sectors with higher emissions [4] (p. 7)
Summary
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), encompassing the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st. Century Maritime Silk Road, is a large-scaled economic and geopolitical strategy launched by China in 2013, aiming to facilitate trade and promote connectivity and cooperation among countries in Eurasia and some African countries. The “Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Belt and Road,” released by the Chinese government, has defined five priority areas for cooperation: policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bond [1]. 206 BRI cooperation documents with 140 countries and 32 international organizations [2]. As a global economic cooperation initiative involving more than 70 countries that account for two-thirds of the world’s population and one-third of global GDP [3], the BRI could provide unprecedented economic cooperation opportunities and has revealed unparalleled economic potentialities, especially in accelerating economic growth of povertystricken areas under the BRI framework. The BRI has become a big attraction to countries in such regions as Central Asia [5]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
