New Research Reveals Impact of Chinese Overseas Development Finance on the Fragile Ecosystems and Indigenous Populations

Chinese-financed development projects in the Global South are having a profound impact on ecologically sensitive areas, particularly in regions populated by indigenous peoples, according to new research from Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center (GDPC).

The GDPC research team examined projects financed by China’s policy banks, the China Development Bank and the China Exim Bank, between 2008 and 2019 and found that Chinese-backed projects during this time presented “significantly higher” environmental risks than comparable initiatives financed by the World Bank, particularly in the energy sector.

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by Eric Olander

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