Environmental governance of China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

On the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), we present this special symposium to advance knowledge on environmental governance of China’s overseas engagement. While China’s fast-growing investments across the world have large implications for global and local environmental politics, this phenomenon has so far received insufficient attention of students of environmental politics. Moreover, China has become increasingly proactive in promoting green development in the BRI, but little research has assessed relevant governance initiatives. Recognising this research gap, contributors to the symposium provide rigorous analysis on institutional interactions involving China and host country actors as well as forces driving new governance initiatives aiming to green the BRI. Building on the insights drawn from the symposium, we propose a research agenda to focus on the effects of China-US geopolitical rivalry, institutional evolution, and agency of host countries to understand the evolving system governing environmental impacts of China’s overseas engagement.