China’s “ecological civilization”: Geopolitical and geo-economic insights

This chapter presents a critical assessment of the extant literature to help identify the geopolitical and geo-economic challenges associated with China’s energy revolution as the country commits to clean energy and the concept of an ecological civilization. China’s economic model is characterized by excessive government intervention and a lack of guidelines with regard to the costs associated with fast and uncontrolled economic growth. Decades of a fast-growing economy sustained by massive industrial activity in the context of nonexistent environmental regulations has made China the world’s greatest polluter. The Belt and Road Initiative aspires at helping China become a global policy leader in terms of energy sustainability and ensure efficiency on its domestic economy. China’s strategy regarding coal and energy investments in the domestic and international context is a major aspect that needs to be considered, as the evidence points to difficulties faced in detaching itself from coal as the cheapest energy resource.