Abstract Focusing on sustainability discourse and adaptation to environmental agendas, China has become a central actor in cooperative efforts for sustainable infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector. With the African continent as one of its main partners and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, established in the 2000s, serving as a key platform, this relationship has strengthened in recent years. Through the development of the New Silk Road, China has expanded its alliances with the Global South, aligning its collaboration with the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 and its own Agenda 2060. As a result, cooperation has grown more robust. However, this article analyzes the impacts of this relationship and its potential effectiveness, adopting a comprehensive perspective, taking into account China's strategic interests in expanding its environmental framework under the New Silk Road. The narrative surrounding energy development in Africa reveals a gradual transition in China’s approach from reliance on non-renewable resources to cleaner energy alternatives as part of its cooperative efforts. This concern is also particularly sensitive, given the state fragility present in several African countries. But this evolving strategy points toward the development of more appropriate and sustainable forms of cooperation, highlighting the global importance of the green agenda in the context of such as international climate commitments.
Costa et al. (Mon,) studied this question.