Will China build a green Belt and Road in the Arctic?

Abstract

This article aims to shed light on two questions: what are the implications of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Arctic governance? And what are the environmental implications of the BRI for the Arctic? The article first discusses the interaction between China's BRI and Arctic policy, examining the vision that China would like to use the BRI to shape Arctic governance. The article focuses on the environmental components of the BRI. It explores whether China's current regulatory regimes are sufficient to help ensure a green Belt and Road in the Arctic.