China Unveils Policy Guidance Aimed at Improving the Environmental and Climate Performance of Belt and Road Initiative Projects and Products

16 March 2022— Today, China’s National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and Ministry of Commerce jointly released the Opinions on Promoting the Green Development of the “Belt and Road Initiative” (“2022 Opinions” or “Opinions”).

The Opinions illustrate a number of key areas of cooperation for green development of the “Belt and Road Initiative” (BRI) as well as relevant supporting systems, such as financial mechanisms and capacity building, and communicational platforms. The Opinions are the latest in a number of China policy developments aimed at curbing the environmental and climate-forcing impacts of Chinese overseas projects and exports. In light of the recent global focus on methane mitigation as a near-term climate solution, many of these areas (e.g., waste treatment, “green” standards, environmentally friendly products and services, climate mitigation, and capacity building) are ripe for potential BRI-country cooperation.

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