SINO-German Cooperation
on biodiversity, Climate and Environment

The Biodiversity, Climate and Environment (BCE) Group operates in one of the four priority areas of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) China. The group currently manages seven projects via three technical teams (Climate Policy, Carbon Markets & Climate Finance, Biodiversity & Environment Protection).The projects summarised within this group are a clear recognition that supporting China in developing and implementing effective climate and environmental policies and cooperating with the country in the international climate governance system is critical to protect global public goods.

In line with China’s role as an emerging economy and crucial player in international climate and biodiversity protection efforts, the projects take a cooperation approach that emphasises exchange and mutual learning. Given the focus of the BCE Group, the ministries leading the cooperation process are the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) from the German side and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) from the Chinese side. The basis for cooperation is the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Combatting Climate Change and the annual meeting of the Sino-German Working Group on Environment and Climate Change during which specific cooperation projects are launched.

Beyond promoting dialogue between the relevant ministries on both sides, GIZ is also assisting China in developing renewable energies and enhancing energy efficiency in industry and buildings. Other projects focus on provincial-level low-carbon development strategies, the introduction of the Chinese national emissions trading system and the implementation of the country’s nationally determined contributions (NDC).