Planet China: Green Promises, Global Consequences

As governments and global funds pour billions into oil, gas, renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and mining, the future of cross-border investment is becoming a defining issue for environmental protection and climate action. China’s Belt and Road Initiative has been central to this trend, with more than a trillion dollars deployed since the early 2000s and a global footprint that is far more complex than its “green” branding suggests. Inside Climate News, recognized by the Oakes Award for its “Planet China” series on the topic, presents a panel of leading policy, economic, and legal experts to examine the tensions at the heart of China’s overseas investments. Topics include the role of Chinese investment in the global energy transition, gaps between Beijing’s climate diplomacy and on-the-ground realities, the barriers communities and journalists face in seeking accountability, and the broader lessons China’s BRI offers for understanding today’s global resource rush.