The first phase of the Sino-German Track II Dialogue (T2D) on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, a joint initiative between China and Germany, has concluded successfully, paving the way for its second stage. This significant development was announced at the 6th Steering Committee meeting held in Beijing from 26 to 27 April 2023.
Esteemed climate change specialists from both countries, led by Prof Xu Huaqing, Director General of China’s National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), and Dr Dirk Messner, President of the German Environment Agency (UBA), guided the Committee.
Coordinated by GIZ, this meeting represents a vital inflection point in the collective pursuit of climate change solutions and sustainable growth by both nations. During the comprehensive two-day meeting, representatives from the four working groups reviewed the achievements of the first phase and laid out the potential areas of collaboration and feasible timelines for the subsequent phase. The working groups primarily concentrate on Green Recovery, Market-Based Mechanisms to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Science for Long-Term Low Greenhouse Gas Emission/Carbon Neutrality Strategies and Scenarios, and Data-Driven Climate Action.
In their closing remarks, Prof Xu Huaqing and Dr Dirk Messner underscored the pivotal role of the T2D in fortifying climate collaboration between China and Germany and facilitating broader multilateral dialogues, such as global climate negotiations. They expressed hope for the initiative’s future trajectory, suggesting that this collaborative model would certainly enhance Sino-German cooperative efforts in tackling global climate change. They also emphasized the significance of drawing from both countries’ experiences and integrating the results into international negotiation or settlement procedures, highlighting the value of case studies.
Initiated in December 2020, the Sino-German T2D has stimulated ongoing scholarly discussions on climate change among experts from China and Germany. The NCSC and UBA have overseen these conversations, supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) project “Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – Climate Partnership,” managed by GIZ. The fruits of these dialogues were prominently displayed at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on 10 November 2022 at an event titled “Green Transitions – How international cooperation can contribute to the NDCs and long-term strategies,” co-organized by NCSC and UBA, the initial phase accomplishments of the T2D were presented.
