The Global Gateway initiative is a European strategy that aims to enhance sustainable connections across the energy, and transport sectors in both marine and terrestrial environments. Over the period of 2021 to 2027, the European Union plans to mobilise up to €300 billion in investments on high-quality projects, with a focus on countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, that encompasses biodiversity-rich areas with numerous threatened species. Despite the ambitious goals of promoting the highest environmental standards in transport and energy projects under this initiative, there is a significant challenge in addressing the potential negative impacts on biodiversity. The lack of comprehensive information on which species are particularly vulnerable to roads, railways and power lines and best practices to mitigate its negative effects represents a considerable obstacle.
To achieve the goal of no net loss of biodiversity, it is critical to conduct comprehensive assessments on which species and ecosystems could be affected by these infrastructures and on the mechanisms necessary to implement best practices that promote ecologically sustainable infrastructures.
Our session aims to give participants a snapshot of the lessons learned from the Belt and Road Initiative (ambitious plan of infrastructure investment to connect China with the rest of the world). We also aim to promote a discussion among stakeholders (academia, transport and energy authorities, environmental agencies) regarding environmental assessments, mitigation strategies and monitoring mechanisms that should be addressed by the European Union towards effective implementation of environmental safeguards in the Global Gateway initiative, using the best science-based solutions.