With China’s pledge of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, the country is demonstrating an increased determination to a profound low-carbon transformation of its economy and society. The Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change is supported by the German Federal Government through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) being implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.
To facilitate the Sino-German policy dialogue on climate change and to accelerate climate action in these two countries, the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change provides a knowledge-sharing platform for technical exchange among stakeholders. It was established to facilitate the sharing of lessons learned and to raise climate ambition among stakeholders in their decarbonisation pathways.
Our work focuses on the following areas:
As consequences of climate change, biodiversity loss or environmental degradation affect women and men differently, gender equality is increasingly considered an indispensable dimension of effective climate and environmental governance. International frameworks such as the “UNFCCC Gender
In both China and Germany, national climate targets are set at the central level, while implementation takes place locally. The cooperation between the two countries therefore focuses on connecting German states and Chinese provinces
On April 22, 2026, back-to-back with the China (Sichuan) and Germany (North Rhine-Westphalia) Economic and Investment Conference, a high-level delegation from Sichuan Province, one of China’s major energy hubs, met with energy sector experts from North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) in Düsseldorf. The GIZ Energy team in China supported this important exchange to discuss how national climate ambitions can be turned into practical, regional solutions. This subnational dialogue contributes to the wider Sino-German Climate Change and Green Transition Dialogue Cooperation Mechanism.
During 27-28 January 2026, representatives from Tongji University, Shenzhen Bus Group,and GIZ Urban-Act China visited the Special Capital Region of Jakarta Indonesia. The visit aims for further exchanges with the Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda) and the TransJakarta team on Low-carbon urban transportation solutions, digital-supported sustainable urban mobility planning.
On 29 January 2026, a new China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) special policy study (SPS) was kicked off, focusing on advancing high-quality development through circular economy with smart digitalisation. The 2026 SPS is co-led by CCICED Special Advisor Ilka Hirt, Deputy Director-General of the International Policy of the BMUKN, and CCICED Special Advisor Hu Qing, Professor of the Southern University of Science and Technology.
As the COPA project concluded in December 2025, its achievements highlight both the urgency and opportunity of sustainable cooling. Facing a growing demand for refrigeration and air conditioning, emissions from ozone-depleting substances (ODS) and climate-damaging hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) remain a critical challenge. Implemented by GIZ in cooperation with UNIDO and UNDP, the project advanced lifecycle refrigerant management since its launch in 2021 in eight countries around the world, including in China.
Jointly issued by the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council, this policy “Measures on Comprehensive Evaluation and Assessment for Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality”, establishes a formal assessment system for evaluating how provincial-level Party committees and governments implement China’s carbon peaking and carbon neutrality objectives.
The assessment work is coordinated centrally and implemented by the National Development and Reform Commission together with relevant departments. It applies to provincial-level Party committees and governments, including provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities.
The General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued two policies to strengthen energy conservation, carbon reduction, and the assessment of climate-related targets.
This article looks at the first policy, “Opinions on Advancing Energy Conservation and Carbon Reduction at a Higher Level and with Higher Quality”, which sets out a broad policy framework for improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, controlling fossil fuel consumption, and accelerating green industrial transformation.
On 13 March 2026, China’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) was adopted by the National People’s Congress (NPC). An overview article covering the main targets related to climate change and the
In the mobility sector, the Plan pushes for system-level transformation in a sector responsible for roughly 10% of national CO₂ emissions. This includes the development of an integrated national transport network, such as the expansion of zero-emission transport corridors (over 10,000 km planned), and a modal shift toward rail and waterways, while promoting intermodal freight systems.
On 12 March 2026, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress voted and passed the resolution on the 15th Five-Year Plan (FYP) for National Economic and Social Development. While reaffirming long-term decarbonisation goals, the document adopts a notably cautious approach to headline climate commitments.
China is advancing its electricity market reform as renewable energy deployment accelerates. The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued new “Basic Rules for the Medium- and Long-Term Electricity Market”, strengthening the role of long-term contracting and introducing more flexible trading arrangements, cross-provincial transactions, and clearer participation rules for new market actors. At the same time, China is expanding market-based electricity pricing by removing fixed time-of-use tariffs in several provinces and refining capacity payment mechanisms for dispatchable power and storage.
With the adoption of China’s first comprehensive “Ecological and Environmental Code” on 12 March 2026, the country takes a significant step toward strengthening its legal framework for environmental governance. Entering into force on 15 August 2026, the Code integrates existing legislation while introducing new legal provisions for emerging areas such as green and low-carbon development.
On 19 December 2025, the Ministry of Finance of China, in coordination with nine relevant authorities, released the Corporate Sustainability Disclosure Standards No.1 — Climate (Trial) (hereinafter referred to as the “Climate Standard”). The Climate Standard is intended to support China’s goals of carbon peaking and neutrality through top-level design, guiding enterprises from observation to more substantive action. It serves as a policy instrument linking corporate climate governance to capital market behaviour.
On 23 October 2025, the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted its recommendations for the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (2026–2030). The recommendations intend to scale up renewable energy supply, ensure the substitution of fossil fuels, and improve the flexibility and resilience of the national power system. Climate priorities include strengthening carbon governance, enhancing carbon market mechanisms, and building resilience against climate risks. The State Council is now developing the draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, based on the CPC recommendations. During the two sessions in March 2026, the draft outline of the 15th FYP will be reviewed, voted on and potentially adopted before being officially released.
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