The document discusses greening Belt and Road infrastructure projects in Central Asia. It makes the following key points: 1) The Belt and Road Initiative is driving over $1 trillion in rapid infrastructure development in Central Asia, including new roads, tunnels, and investments in countries like Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. 2) All players, including China, Central Asian countries, and international organizations, have declared a focus on "greening" these projects through safeguards like national legislation and financial instruments. 3) However, differences remain in environmental standards and information sharing between China and Central Asia. Increased cooperation on tools like impact assessments, best practices, and protected area mapping could help maximize green

1. Greening the Belt and Road projects in
Central Asia
Viktor Novikov, Zoï Environment Network, OECD meeting, 30 SEP 2019
More information: www.zoinet.org
Produced with support of:

2. Belt and Road in Central Asia
• ‘It is there’ large (USD 1+ trillion) and rapid
infrastructure development happening now in
Central Asia as world wide
• ‘Greening’ declared by all players: China, the
countries of Central Asia and international
organizations, including int. coalition of partners
facilitated via UNEP and Ministry of environment
• Safeguards in place through national legislation,
international agreements, financial instruments
and voluntary and industry compliance

3. Photo: azattyk.org Photo: azattyk.org
Transport, cities, trade
Mining, industry and agriculture Energy
Politics,
culture &
science
Many forms!Belt and Road diversity “Big” data (hard to collect)!

4.  BRI is one of the key sources of improvement and
expansion of the domestic infrastructure: new tunnels
and modern roads in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan,
increasingly in Uzbekistan (e.g. Qimchiq tunnel)
 BRI is a significant source of funding (in the forms of
concessions, grants & loans) to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan;
Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the
emerging destinations for Chinese direct investments
 BRI is a major contributor to the growing demand in
building and construction (cement), energy (coal, oil
and gas, refineries, renewable energies) & connectivity
 Mutual interest in large investments: UZB-KYR-CHI
railroad, hydropower, extraction of minerals and energy
production and transit (Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline)
 Prospects for Central Asia food exports to China:
fruits, vegetables, grain, oils and meat

6. Many BRI economic corridors and links cross Central Asia
Different actors and motives:
- Advocates & promoters
- Opponents
- Observers & monitors
- “Go with the flow”
- State-owned enterprises
- International organizations
- Sector-lobbies
- Finance institutions
- Country clusters (i.e. SCO)

7. Why to study and monitor BRI?
• influencers here (you) environmental policy
setters and enforcers in the BRI recipient countries
• influencers there (China) BRI socio-environmental
standards and financing policy setters and monitors
• BRI implementers mainstreaming the greening
principles and BAT to projects in different sectors
• ‘general public’, providing information as a base to
react, increased transparency and awareness
Need in regular updates (annual)! Due to rapid pace of developments

8. Greening the Belt &
Road projects
What? How? Where? Who?

9. Several global players and NGOs have initiated
BRI environmental screening (remotely)
Sampler from WWF 2017
Environmental sensitivity mapping for the major BRI routes

11. Geography of the Belt and Road projects in Central Asia
About 100 active
projects in Central Asia
and Azerbaijan are
directly or indirectly
linked to the Belt and
Road Initiative

12.  Classic tools (EIAs, laws, permits): land use, emissions, waste, flora-fauna
 Bank safeguards and industry standards
 Beyond project scale (SEIA), national jurisdiction and project life-time.
 Global commitments and the related national targets
Large projects may have tremendous influence – negative or positive – depending on approach.
Do we have modern & practical regulations and enforce them well?
Beyond the project thinking

13. > > > categories

14. Example of country analysis

21. Greening ancient and building new cities along the Silk Route
* Minimize / avoid coal power as primary energy source
* Modern and energy efficient buildings and mobility
* Ring roads and traffic regulation to avoid congestions
* Move out polluting industries to outskirts
* Consider local air circulation in pollution control/permits
* Careful waste management, minimization of landfills,
waste segregation, recycling and construction waste
* Smart planning of the logistic/connection hubs
URUMQI growth

22.  Environmental practices and traditions are different in
Central Asia and China. In addition, countries belong to the
different groupings and multilateral agreements (e.g.
UNECE instruments)
 China is investing significantly to Central Asia’s training and
research via Academy of Science and university channels, but
less so in environmental instruments, standards,
safeguards and environmental information exchange.
 Tajikistan has signed MoU with China on the environment
 Information on standards and best available technologies
(BAT) used and enforced in China is lacking in Central Asia,
while information on environmental vulnerabilities and
critical natural areas in Central Asia is often fragmented and
not accessible (remains in the hands of specialists).
 Recently China and Central Asia participated in the joint
mapping of key biodiversity areas according to the Global
standard of IUCN: step towards a common approach

23. Central Asia future: unchecked mega projects and climate change

24. Better
environment
potential solutions 2050
Healthier
people
Stronger
economy