Green Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Lab
The Green Belt and Road Initiative Lab (Green BRI Lab) provides research, analyses, policy engagement, capacity building and intelligence on policies, economics, environment, sustainability and green finance of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – also known as Silk Road Initiative.
We strive to be the global leader for independent and research-based policy development, advisory and action to build an ecologically-friendly and green Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that is
- climate-neutral with zero greenhouse gas emissions,
- nature positive with protected biodiversity, and
- improves livelihoods for people.
Focus areas
Our work focuses on these areas:
- sustainable infrastructure
- sustainable transport
- renewable energy
- biodiversity finance
- green innovation
- green finance policy
- green agriculture
The Green BRI Lab is also engaged in capacity building for private and public institutions.
What is the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is China’s main international cooperation and economic strategy. The BRI is also known as the “One Belt One Road” (OBOR), the “Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-century Maritime Silk Road” or just the “New Silk Road”. Its Chinese name is 一带一路 (yi dai yi lu). It was announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazakhstan in October 2013.
Resources for the BRI
The Green Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Lab collected numerous sources to support research on the BRI. We make these publicly available for all:
- BRI policies, e.g. to green and sustainable BRI policies
- BRI databases, e.g. to BRI investment data
- BRI countries list
- BRI news sources (in progress)
We are always working on improving our resources. If you think we should add another resource relevant for the environmental, green, sustainable or social dimensions of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), please contact us at info@greenfdc.org.
Recent Green BRI publications
Here are recent and relevant publications on green BRI by our staff.
- China’s investment and construction engagement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) 2026 H1
Key findings Overview – record first half in total Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) engagement, but drop in investment Preliminary data on Chinese engagement in the 150 countries of the - Interpretation of the “Three-Year Action Plan for Energy-Saving and Carbon-Reduction Retrofits in Key Industries”On 15 June 2026, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), alongside the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), the State-owned Assets
- Interpretation of the “Opinions of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council on Doing a Higher-Level and Higher-Quality Job in Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction” (April 2026)On April 22, 2026, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council published the Opinions on Doing a Higher-Level and Higher-Quality Job
- China issues strict supply chain security and countering foreign extraterritorial jurisdictions – impacts on green economy and international collaborationOver the past weeks, China’s State Council, issued two far-reaching regulations: Both regulations are distinct in their goal with one focusing on domestic economic security and the other on safeguarding
- China’s 15th five-year plan 2026-2030 – a comprehensive analysis for China’s green transition in climate emissions, energy, industry, metals, and financeExecutive summary In March 2026, during the so called “Two Sessions”, China agreed on its 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP) (the draft had been circulated since October 2025) as a follow
- China Green Finance Status and Trends 2025-2026This executive summary is based on the full report, “China Green Finance Status and Trends 2025-2026” by Fang Yang, Jinze Li and Christoph Nedopil, co-published with the Griffith Asia Institute. The report provides
