Water futures along China's Belt and Road Initiative in Central Asia

China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is anticipated to have wide-ranging impacts on the countries of Central Asia. This includes a significant impact to a complex and fragile water resources landscape, and the closely entwined economic, social, environmental and political context. Water resources considerations are currently not explicit in BRI policies or proposals, despite the vast variety of ways in which the initiative may interact with and influence these dynamics. This article presents an early examination of the key trade-offs and interdependencies across water management in the BRI and it includes recommendations to mitigate detrimental impact and promote sustainable delivery for the future.

Automated summary

The Belt and Road Initiative from China is expected to have significant impacts on the water resources landscape in Central Asia. Despite the diverse ways the initiative may interact with water resources dynamics, current policies and proposals lack explicit considerations for water resources. This article calls for further research on water management within the BRI and offers recommendations to mitigate negative impacts and promote sustainable development.