Work

Transnational environmental governance: Chinese businesses as policy entrepreneurs in Cambodia under the Green Belt and Road Initiative

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Globalization has complicated the relationship between economic activity and environmental governance. This article seeks to foreground this relationship by examining the actions taken by a Chinese environmental engineering firm in Cambodia under the Green Belt and Road Initiative. Based on in-depth stakeholder interviews, we found that the firm adopted many policy entrepreneurship strategies—improving the government's environmental monitoring capacity, fostering partnerships and networks with local and international businesses, and disseminating credible information about environmental regulations. These policy entrepreneurship strategies are embedded in the logic of (for-profit) eco-entrepreneurship—to allow the company to achieve market penetration and overcome policy barriers. This study also draws attention to the contributions of private actors in realizing the vision of the Green Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: Sustainable Futures

DOI: 10.1016/j.sftr.2025.100587

Authors: Qingge Geng, Kevin Lo

Institution: Hong Kong Baptist University

Language: English

Topic: Belt and Road Initiative

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Climate action, Partnerships for the goals

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,340