New China-Funded Port In Peru May Have Ecological Drawbacks - CleanTechnica

The article discusses the newly built port at Chancay, Peru, funded by China as part of its Belt and Road Initiative, which significantly improves shipping logistics between China and South America by cutting transit times by 10 days. This port establishes Peru as South America’s primary entry point for Asian goods and provides China with strategic access to critical minerals, agricultural products, and commodities such as timber, soybeans, and beef from the Amazon region. However, the port’s development raises serious environmental concerns, particularly regarding the acceleration of deforestation and ecological degradation in the Amazon basin. Experts warn that new transportation routes created to connect the port through the Andes mountains could exacerbate the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, potentially turning it from a crucial carbon sink into a major carbon emitter and pushing the ecosystem toward a climate tipping point. While China is recognized for its leadership in renewable energy and electric transportation, the article highlights a lack of comprehensive environmental impact assessments related to its overseas infrastructure projects like the Chancay port. Critics