Opinion | Cop29 can work with the Belt and Road Initiative for a greener future

Aligning climate action with major economic initiatives is essential to cutting emissions while promoting sustainable development

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Climate activists project a message onto Azerbaijan’s embassy in London on November 7. Photo: AP

Published: 4:30pm, 20 Nov 2024

As world leaders gather in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the UN climate change conference Cop29, an opportunity has arisen to align climate action with economic initiatives, in particular the Belt and Road Initiative.

One of the largest infrastructure programmes in history, the Chinese initiative was launched in 2013 to enhance global connectivity and economic integration across Asia, Europe and Africa. Recognising the environmental challenges, China is focusing on a green transformation of the Belt and Road Initiative.

With participation from over 140 countries and about US$1 trillion invested since its inception, the initiative holds enormous potential for promoting sustainable development. Azerbaijan, as Cop29 host, and China, as architect of a green Belt and Road Initiative, can work together to support the initiative’s evolution.

Nearly every belt and road country is represented at Cop29, united by a shared goal: to make their projects and nations greener and more sustainable. This is an excellent starting point for collaboration. In particular, Cop29 can catalyse the “greening” of the belt and road by acting as a platform for the Belt and Road Initiative International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC).

Established in 2019, the BRIGC is a collaborative platform that brings together governments, corporations and environmental organisations to promote sustainable practices within the belt and road framework. Its primary responsibility is to ensure the projects meet high environmental criteria and contribute to global sustainability objectives.

For the BRIGC, Cop29 provides an excellent opportunity to form strategic partnerships and share knowledge. By fostering collaborations with global partners, the BRIGC can enhance the Belt and Road Initiative’s capacity to implement green technologies and practices across diverse regions.