Short abstract

We conduct a pioneering study that maps and estimates resource use in BRI projects and assesses their environmental and socio-cultural impacts, forming the foundation for sustainable infrastructure planning.

Project description

1. Scientific relevance

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is the largest infrastructure project in history, spanning over 65 countries. While its economic potential is vast, the environmental impact of its massive construction material demand remains unknown. This project advances environmental and sustainability science by offering a data-driven, spatially explicit assessment of BRI’s environmental and socio-economic consequences.

2. Material & Methods

We integrate multiple methodologies:

• Material stock and flow analysis: Calculating material demand based on infrastructure size and material intensity factors.
• GIS-based spatial modeling: Mapping material use distribution across regions and sectors.
• Environmental and socio-cultural analysis: Assessing carbon footprints, resource depletion, and societal implications.

3. Expected Results & Conclusions

• A comprehensive, continuously updated database detailing material use in BRI projects by sector, region, and year.
• Quantification of the environmental footprint of BRI construction materials (e.g. carbon emissions).
• Insights into the socio-cultural impacts of material stock accumulation in BRI countries.

4. Follow-up

The findings will inform policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders on how to make the BRI more sustainable. The publicly accessible database will support future studies on carbon emissions, circular economy solutions, and the life-cycle assessment of infrastructure projects.

5. Why Leiden University?

We’re an interdisciplinary international team of material stock assessment experts from Leiden University’s Institute of Environmental Science, an archaeologist from Leiden University with unique expertise of studying how materials shape the society through history, and a prominent research group at the Chinese Academy of Science with long experience in material flow analysis and environmental impact.

6. Social relevance

With BRI’s growing global influence, understanding its material consumption and environmental and social impacts is crucial for sustainable development. This research offers a scientific foundation for responsible infrastructure planning, helping reduce environmental degradation while fostering economic growth.

Research question

How do BRI infrastructure projects impact environmental sustainability and socio-economic systems?

• infrastructure development
• sustainability assessment

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