Innovating collaboration mechanisms to build the "intellectual" foundation of the Green Silk Road
The high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative emphasizes "Leading by the Green Silk Road," showcasing broad prospects for win-win cooperation.
On December 12, nearly 100 experts and guests from the green and low-carbon development field, both domestic and international, gathered at Dialogue of BRI Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network and Briefing Meeting for BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) Partners.
The event aimed to share experiences, deepen consensus, and pool strengths to advance green and low-carbon cooperation, provide recommendations for achieving sustainable development, and contribute wisdom and strength toward the green and low-carbon transition of the Belt and Road.
The photo shows the site of the Dialogue of BRI Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network and Briefing Meeting for BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) Partners in Beijing, December 12, 2024.
Innovating Mechanisms: Experts Discuss Pathways for Green Development Cooperation
The Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, held in October 2023, proposed the establishment of a green and low-carbon expert network. The importance of this initiative was further emphasized during the fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction work earlier this month. The BRI Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network (GLEN) is not only an innovative mechanism for enhancing international exchanges in emerging fields, but also one of China's key measures under the eight major steps China will take to support our joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.
"Looking ahead, we are full of expectations for building the Green Silk Road," noted Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. He outlined three key priorities:
1. Fostering Consensus: Build a broader green cooperation platform leveraging the BRIGC to deepen exchanges and interactions.
2. Innovating Cooperation Paths: Focusing on the practical needs of developing countries for green and low-carbon transitions, BRI Green and Low-Carbon Expert Network (GLEN) and Green Investment and Finance Partnership (GIFP) will be leveraged to collaboratively discuss and develop green solutions.
3. Promoting Pragmatic Cooperation: Facilitate the implementation of more green and low-carbon projects in developing countries, while encouraging the participation of enterprises, think tanks, and research institutions to create a diversified cooperation framework.
Supported by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, BRIGC serves as the secretariat for GLEN. Experts participating in the dialogue represent various fields, including climate, energy, environment, finance, and international cooperation, they unanimously agreed that the GLEN platform allows cross-sector sharing of research outcomes and establishes cooperative mechanisms. These efforts support partner countries and regions in improving top-level designs and standard systems for green and low-carbon development. Moreover, GLEN offers decision-making advice, theoretical research, project evaluation, and capacity-building support for enterprises, financial institutions, and other stakeholders involved in Belt and Road green international cooperation projects.
Hannah Ryder, CEO of Development Reimagined , emphasized the importance of the six key tasks proposed by GLEN for advancing the green and low-carbon transitions of partner countries. For African nations, she highlighted that future China-Africa cooperation should prioritize the development of green infrastructure and related projects in manufacturing, environment, and commodities to promote ecological civilization on the continent.
Significant Achievements Drive Continuous Green and Low-Carbon Development of the Belt and Road Initiative
Guo Jing, President of BRI International Green Development Coalition (BRIGC) , highlighted the significant achievements in 2024 across policy research, international communication, and conference organization.
Throughout the year, BRIGC and partners conducted joint studies on key areas of the Green Belt and Road, including green energy, green finance, and climate financing. Reports such as BRI Green Development Outlook, China's Actions for South-South Cooperation on Climate Change, Low-Carbon Energy Transition Cooperation between China and Key BRI Partners were officially released during the conference. These reports, as milestones in building an international think tank platform for Green Belt and Road development, systematically showcase progress, share China's green development practices, and serve as a valuable reference for identifying opportunities and challenges in building a green Silk Road and advancing Belt and Road cooperation in ecological and climate-related fields.
Zhang Jieqing, Country Director, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) China, stated that four institutions from China, Indonesia, and the Philippines jointly completed the report titled "Low-Carbon Energy Transition Cooperation between China and Key BRI Partners." The report examines the needs, status quo, and challenges of low-carbon energy transitions in Indonesia and the Philippines, offering practical recommendations. The report highlights that Indonesia has the most abundant and diverse renewable energy resources among ASEAN member states and has developed a new five-year strategy aiming to achieve at least 8% green and sustainable economic growth. However, its energy transition faces multiple challenges. The report recommends further deepening green and low-carbon cooperation between China and Indonesia by:
1. Establishing investment standards and high-level dialogue mechanisms.
2. Leveraging the Green Investment and Finance Partnership (GIFP) to enhance cooperation in demonstration projects.
3. Enhancing cooperation on power grid infrastructure development to improve energy solutions for islands.
Partners "Join Hands" to Expand the Green and Low-Carbon Development Network of the Belt and Road Initiative
At the year-end exchange, new and existing partners of the Green Belt and Road Initiative gathered to explore topics such as green development pathways, clean energy transition mechanisms, carbon credit trading systems, and the relationship between green transformation and economic development. Practical solutions were discussed to empower sustainable development for more countries. During the event, BRIGC signed Memorandums of Understanding with various partners, committing to closer cooperation in areas such as energy transition, green low-carbon transportation, and the Belt and Road carbon footprint.
At the meeting , Secretariat of Energy of Honduras, Powerchina International Group Limited, and BRIGC signed a Memorandums of Understanding. The three parties will strengthen cooperation in areas such as power planning and evaluation, renewable energy project development, clean power technology sharing, and capacity building, to support Honduras in achieving green, low-carbon, and sustainable development.
Fabby Tumiwa, Executive Director of Indonesia's Institute for Essential Services Reform, emphasized that in the process of low-carbon development, countries need to strengthen cooperation rather than act individually, as only through joint efforts can the challenges be addressed.
By signing the Memorandums of Understanding, BRIGC and Indonesia's Institute for Essential Services Reform will work together within the framework of the Green Investment and Finance Partnership (GIFP) to deepen China-Indonesia and China-ASEAN green and low-carbon cooperation, promoting energy low-carbon transitions and green transportation development. Additionally, BRIGC will collaborate with the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency, focusing on mutual recognition of carbon footprint rules and capacity building. It will also cooperate with the China Quality Certification Center on the development of carbon footprint platforms and rules, jointly advancing innovation and development of the Belt and Road carbon management system.
