Towards a lush legacy: The ‘Green’ Shift of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) emerged as a colossal and transformative project, stretching its sinews across continents and cultures. Initially perceived as a monumental infrastructural and economic endeavor, the initiative is now steering towards a green and sustainable future.

This shift, particularly in the energy sector, is not just strategic but a testament to China’s com­mitment to a sustainable future—a future where the nexus of green development, economic prosperity, and global cooperation interlace seamlessly. Hereafter lies a nar­rative of change, challenging the usual and painting a future where the initiative could be a catalyst in the sustainable energy develop­ment agenda.

The Green Pivot: A Necessity, not a Choice

The first half of 2023 has been a watershed moment for the BRI. It was interesting to observe Chi­na’s overseas energy engagements under the BRI morphing into the “greenest” in terms of project type since its inception. The transi­tion focuses on boosting digital connectivity while lessening the environmental impact of physical infrastructure projects. It’s a para­digmatic shift from the initiative’s original trajectory, signaling a robust commitment to sustainable development.

The statistics show that China’s industrial sector, the main driver of its energy consumption (account­ing for 66 per cent in 2018), is undergoing a radical transforma­tion. By 2020, clean energy sources, constituting natural gas, hydropow­er, nuclear power, and wind power, escalated to 24.3 per cent of its en­ergy mix. Moreover, between 2010 and 2019, China accounted for 30 per cent of the global renewable energy production capacity and a similar percentage of the global to­tal investment in renewable energy, amounting to a staggering US$818 billion (see figure).

Success Stories of the BRI: Afri­ca and Beyond

The exciting thing is that we can look at the BRI’s global footprint and somewhat underscore China’s commitment to sustainable devel­opment. A Pan-African Odyssey is replete with success stories. In particular, thousands of Chinese firms, 90% of them private, are operational across the African continent. China has emerged as the largest funder of infrastructure, spearheading projects like the Dji­bouti-Ethiopia railway and water pipeline, Egypt’s new rail system, the Mombasa-Nairobi railway in Kenya, two major hydroelectric plants in Uganda, and the Abu­ja-Kaduna railway in Nigeria.

The BRI’s success is not con­fined to Africa. It has revitalized the port of Piraeus in Greece, established the first rail freight ser­vice connecting China to Europe via Iran, and enhanced rail and road connections across Central Asia. Projects like the new rail service in Saudi Arabia for Hajj pil­grims, the China-Laos rail line ex­tending to Singapore, a rail project in Malaysia, a hydropower project in Argentina, and airport construc­tions in Maldives, Kazakhstan, and Indonesia are monumental. As already stated, these ventures exemplify China’s commitment to infrastructural development in Africa and the BRI’s global foot­print, aligning with several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Visualising the Facts

According to the Green Finance and Development Centre at Fudan University, 56 per cent of China’s $8.61 billion energy sector engage­ments in BRI countries during the first half of 2023 were invested in renewable energy projects. Reference to historical data signals a declining engagement in fossil fuels, marking a historic low since inception. Figure 2 elegantly juxta­poses the trajectories of renewable energy and fossil fuel investments by China under the BRI.

The ascending green line, repre­senting renewable energy invest­ments, visually embodies China’s growing commitment to sustain­able energy practices, resonating with the green transition agenda. In contrast, the descending red line, denoting fossil fuel investments, captures a significant strategic shift, reflecting a global movement towards renewable energy sources. This provides a clear and concise comparison of the investment trends, including a visual testament to the evolving nature of Chi­na’s global energy engagements, aligning naturally with the narrative on sustainable development and international cooperation.

Additionally, the accompanying map (see Figure 3) shows the ex­tensive reach of the Belt and Road Initiative across the African con­tinent. Marked with blue dots and labelled accordingly, key projects like the Djibouti-Ethiopia Railway, the New Rail System in Egypt, and the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway are highlighted. Each location marks a node of development and cooper­ation between China and African nations, resonating with the BRI’s role in fostering infrastructural growth in Africa.

Far from Illusion

China’s leap towards a substan­tial 24.3 per cent clean energy mix is a clarion call to the world, demonstrating that economic powerhouses can certainly pivot towards sustainability without sacrificing growth.

This commitment is further rein­forced by a staggering $818 billion investment in renewable energy, a bold statement in the global energy discourse. Nonetheless, amidst this optimistic backdrop, a critical ques­tion looms: Is this green transition a solid evolution or a beautifully orchestrated illusion? The evidence suggests a hopeful answer. The de­cline in fossil fuel investments and the surge in green projects across continents are tangible indicators of a profound shift. This is not a mere rebranding, an ephemeral trend, or a fleeting promise. It’s a rethinking, a reimagining of what global development can and should be. It is a robust, ongoing trans­formation, palpable in “the wind turbines dotting landscapes and the solar panels capturing the sun’s bounty”.

Beyond the tangibles is also the spirit of collaboration. In Africa, where the potential is as vast as the savannahs, the BRI’s projects are more than investments as they create partnerships for sustain­able development. A new model of international cooperation is emerging—one that is anchored on mutual respect and shared goals. Surely, the journey is far from over. Megawatts or miles of railway will not be used as the standard measurement for the success of the BRI’s green shift. The true success will be evaluated by the lasting impact on communities and ecosystems.

Dawn of a Green Era: Person­al Reflections

As I sit here in my room, the clock striking 4:05 am, each tap of the keyboard echoes through the stillness, signaling the crafting of these final words. I find myself in a pensive reverie, imagining the global transition to a new era of sustainable development. I am struck by the gravity of what lies ahead not just in the story of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) but in the broader narrative of our planet’s future.

Questions abound, yet one thing is certain: the world is watching, hopeful yet cautious, eager to see if the BRI will indeed pave the way towards a verdant, sustainable legacy. The answer rests in our collective will to embrace a future where ‘green’ symbolises not just a colour, but a commitment to hon­or our planet and its bounty.

We need to remind ourselves of the fact that “the Earth is not a gift from our parents; it is a loan from our children”. This is our moment, our chance to shape a legacy that will illuminate the pages of history with stories of collaboration inher­ent in the BRI.

BY DR ISAAC ANKRAH

*****

The writer is a Senior Research Fellow, Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory and Lec­turer, Ghana Communication Technology University