A new report from the Boston University Global Development Policy Center highlights the impact of embodied carbon in steel and cement used for Chinese-financed infrastructure. While cement is typically sourced locally, steel is often imported from China, where coal-based blast furnaces create higher emissions than in many host countries. To lower the carbon footprint of the Belt and Road Initiative, researchers suggest implementing green procurement rules. By incentivizing low-carbon materials during the planning phase, China can significantly reduce the CO2 emissions associated with global energy and transport projects.
