Green Trade Opportunities and Challenges within the Belt and Road Initiative

Abstract

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) presents new opportunities for global sustainable development, with a particular emphasis on promoting green trade. Green trade not only contributes significantly to economic growth in participating countries but also strives to balance environmental protection with efficient resource utilization. However, the development of green trade faces formidable challenges, including inadequate policy implementation, difficulties in technology transfer, and inherent conflicts between environmental conservation and economic interests. This study critically examines the successes and lessons learned from two key projects: the China-Europe Green Bridge Project and Pakistan's Karot Hydropower Project. The findings highlight that effective collaboration between China and Europe in policy coordination, green technology transfer, and financial support played a pivotal role in the success of the China-Europe Green Bridge Project. In contrast, deficiencies in policy execution, technological-adaptation mismatches, and socio-environmental conflicts contributed to the challenges faced by the Karot Hydropower Project. Building on these insights, the study proposes several strategic recommendations. These include conducting comprehensive, country-specific studies, quantitative analyses, and interdisciplinary research to enhance policy coherence, deepen international cooperation, strengthen financial support for green initiatives, and bolster environmental impact assessments and regulatory frameworks. These measures are aimed at advancing green trade under the BRI and fostering sustainable development on a global scale.