Green Belt and Road projects possible by associations between multilateral institutions: UNEP

A senior United Nations Environment Programme official opined that strategic conglomerations with multilateral institutions are vital to make sure that the implementation of Belt and Road projects is ecologically sound.

According to Joyce Msuya, acting executive director of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the infrastructure and energy projects under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative have potential to transmute the beneficiary countries subject to adherence to global best practices on environmental sustainability.

Joyce Msuya will be attending the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation scheduled to take place between April 25 and 27 in China's capital, Beijing. She opined that her organization will lend technical support to ensure that mega infrastructure projects are cushioned from environmental risks.

"I think the Belt and Road Initiative, its spirit and objective of bringing infrastructure development, support the Vision 2030 and sustainable development goals (SDGs) to beneficiaries is quite exciting," Msuya said. "The key part of our offerings when it comes to investments, infrastructure, energy and water is to provide capacity building, advisory services but also the intellectual, scientific advice on environmental challenges that may arise from infrastructure projects," Msuya added.

Msuya clarified that the imminent Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation offers an opportunity for multilateral institutions to dialogue with China and beneficiaries' countries on how to accelerate green infrastructure financing. According to her, the sharing of international best practices should inform the financing of infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative to minimize environmental risks.

"Most infrastructure investments are long term and so innovations can be applied to boost sustainability. The human aspect of these investments should be looked at given the demographic changes linked to rural-urban migration," Msuya further cited. She further added that integrating energy efficiency in the Belt and Road Initiative will ensure that green and sustainable development is realized among beneficiary countries across Africa, Asia and Europe, as reported by Xinhua.

Msuya left her opinion that Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation is timely as multilateral institutions explore fruitful engagement with China and beneficiaries of the Belt and Road projects to advance the sustainability agenda.

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