BRI drives green development of the planet

At the opening ceremony of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech that outlined eight actions in support of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, in which “green development” was one key action that serves as the new blueprint for achieving the green development goals of the Belt and Road and promoting the harmonious development of man and nature.

Given the momentous transformations unseen in a century, ecological and environmental protection together with green development have become important drivers for sustainable development of mankind. Over the past 10 years, China has incorporated ecological civilization-related cooperation into the BRI, transforming the BRI into a green initiative, and driving green transformation at the global scale.

Green development will advance the Belt and Road Initiative. Making green the background color of the BRI is of great significance to driving green development at the global scale. Adhering to the concept of green reflects China’s role as a responsible big country. Bearing in mind the collective destiny and shared interest of humanity, China proposed the concept of building a community of shared future for mankind, and BRI serves as a major platform underpinning such concept. In the past, the industrial revolution and modernization approaches had created material wealth with irreparable ecological wounds, therefore, China emphasizes that development should no longer be carried out in a destructive manner and that green development should be adhered to, as it serves as an important guarantee for a better vision for mankind, and is also an important reason why the BRI has travelled so far.

The green concept of the BRI leads the international trend of green and low-carbon development. China adheres to the principle of coordinating socioeconomic development with environmental protection, respects the rights of all parties in pursuit of green development, and is committed to cooperation in the fields of green infrastructure, energy, transportation, green finance, etc. By incorporating the concept of green into BRI, a “green consensus” can be nurtured among Belt and Road countries so as to avoid falling into the past cycle of “polluting first and cleaning the mess afterwards”. By integrating green into all aspects of work, supporting developing countries in green and low-carbon growth, and through information sharing and capacity building, China will help deepening global cooperation in environmental and climate governance, which also aligns with the inherent requirements of ecological civilization at home.

In recent years, China has actively carried out policy dialogues on green development under the BRI framework. It established a green low-carbon cooperation mechanism with countries and international organizations involved, and set up a platform for green development, so as to make the “green friends circle” bigger and bigger. So far, China has issued the “Guidance on Promoting Green Belt and Road”, and signed with the UNEP the “MOU on Green Belt and Road” (2017-2022). It has also signed environmental protection cooperation agreements with more than 30 countries and international organizations, and established the BRI Green Development Alliance with more than 150 partners from more than 40 countries. At the High-level Forum on Green Development of the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the Beijing Initiative on Green Development, the Investment and Financing Partnership for Green Development, and the Action Plan for Green Science and Technology Development in Central Asia were rolled out, vigorously promoting green and low-carbon development and the green transformation of industries.

In advancing the green BRI, China is leveraging its advantages in renewable energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, cleaner production and other fields, and utilizing Chinese technology, products and experience to promote green development. Protecting the ecological environment in the process of infrastructure building is crucial. For the Mombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) in Kenya, in order not to affect the migration of animals in the African prairie, Chinese companies built animal passages along the railroad, allowing even giraffes to easily cross, which was highly commended by all parties.

At present, BRI has become an important force in promoting global energy transformation. Thanks to a number of successful projects, many countries are eager to learn from China’s experience in green development and enhance cooperation with China. Led by the concept of green, with the numerous cooperation platforms available, and driven by a problem-oriented methodology, the green BRI is increasingly transformed from an idea into a reality.

Contributed by Zuo Fengrong, research fellow of the Research Center on Xi Jinping Thought of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era (National Academy of Governance), Central Party School, and Vice President of the Institute for International Strategic Studies.