CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE TRANSITION TO RENEWABLE ENERGY: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR PAK-CHINA ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

Abstract

A transition to renewable energy is critical to reach the point of a better life while also being a strategic opportunity for sustainability within large-scale international infrastructure, especially in response to climate change. Based on this, the study draws attention to the confluence of climate change mitigation and energy transformation in the realization of the Pakistan-China Economic Corridor (CPEC) under China’s Belt and Road Initiative. This research helps to fill a key gap in knowledge about how geopolitical partnerships can converge with global climate objectives in the presence of economic, technological, and policy hurdles. The aim is to evaluate possibilities for renewable energy to be integrated into CPEC’s development scheme and potential obstacles that may hinder this transition. The study employs a mixed methodology both in the form of accessing and the integration of policy analysis, stakeholder interview, and regional energy data modeling to investigate the feasibility, strategic value and the implementation risk of renewable energy projects in CPEC. Preliminary results are likely to indicate both promising investment opportunities in the solar and wind energy sector and as well as institutional hurdles including the mismatch of regulations, financial constraints, and tradeoffs associated with the environment. The paper finishes with a suggestion of policy to harmonize climate objectives with bilateral economic interests towards a more climate resilient and energy secure South Asian region.