Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Design and Use of a Full Flow Sampling System (FFS) for the Quantification of Methane Emissions
Published on: June 12, 2016
Embodied Transboundary Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mitigation Opportunities of over 700 Belt and Road Initiative
Lingli Hou1, Tomer Fishman1, Stefano Merciai1,2
1Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden 2333 CC, Netherlands.
Abstract:
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the world's largest ongoing infrastructure endeavor, tackles urgent development needs in underserved regions. However, its construction phase, especially material extraction and processing, may have far-reaching climate implications that remain poorly known. Here, we present the first global, project-level assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions embodied in the construction of over 700 individual BRI projects (2008-2024) across 105 countries. By integrating a detailed project data set with a physically grounded global supply chain model that captures material-specific sourcing patterns, we estimate 134 Mt of CO2 equiv emissions, around half of which occur outside the project host countries. This reveals the previously unquantified global supply chain reach of the BRI. Depending on operational performance, BRI renewable energy projects may achieve emission reductions comparable in scale to the construction-phase emissions within 2 years. Our results underscore the need and opportunity to embed cleaner material sourcing and sustainability assessment into BRI and other transnational infrastructure efforts.
Related Concept Videos
Microbes and Climate Change
Global Climate Change
The Carbon Cycle
Design Example: Alignment of a Road Line Using GIS
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Radiation: Applications
The average...