Green BRI and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – Enhancing Environmental Management System and Policy Studies for BRI Projects

Since its inception eight years ago, China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has led to more than 200 cooperation documents with 140 countries and 31 international organizations. Behind the scenes, Chinese policymakers have been developing an environmental management framework to govern their outbound investment and finance to “green” the BRI and help countries achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In a new special policy report published by the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), a team of global researchers and policy experts explore how environmental governance of China’s overseas activities is implemented, international lessons for greening the BRI and policy recommendations for China. The report details the green silk road and high-quality development of BRI cooperation, the environmental management system for China’s overseas investments and the experiences of environmental management in international direct foreign investment and official development assistance. The final chapter includes policy recommendations for priority areas for boosting sustainable development in overseas BRI projects, for NGOs practicing environmental management for BRI investment and financing and details five key pillars for full lifecycle environmental management in BRI projects.

The report is the result of international collaboration, featuring dozens of experts from institutions around the world. Kevin P. Gallagher, Director of the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, served as one of three International Co-Leaders of the project. Rebecca Ray, Senior Researcher with the Boston University Global Development Policy Center, served as part of the Expert Team.

CCICED was founded in 1992 as a high-level international advisory body with the approval of the Government of China. CCICED seeks to function as a platform of exchange, enabling the international community to understand China and support China’s engagement with the world.

Overall, the report provides recommendations and toolkits for Chinese policymakers, development finance institutions and investors to continue strengthening their environmental governance and vision of a Green BRI.