How can cities and natural environments adapt to the increasing impacts of climate change? To address this question, local governments and research institutes of the provinces of Guangxi, Shaanxi and Sichuan are working together with the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC implementation project on developing provincial- and city-level adaptation strategies and action plans. Since the kick-off with visits to all three provinces last year, Chinese representatives participated in a study tour to Germany and the Netherlands, discussed adaptation challenges in their provinces with international colleagues and got to know best practices from around the world in a series of peer-to-peer expert exchanges.
From 4 to 6 June, representatives from all three provinces gathered in Chengdu to explore the latest developments of adaptation to climate change together with researchers from the climate science and policy advisory Climate Analytics which accompanies the project scientifically. The purpose of the workshop was to present interim results of the local research on provincial adaptation policy, and to facilitate exchange between provinces and international experts. Combining expert discussions, technical presentations, and immersive site visits, the workshop brought adaptation theory and policy into direct dialogue with real-world practice. Focusing on urban resilience, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem protection, the program brought together participants to develop adaptation policies that are both locally rooted and globally informed through international best practices.
Adaptation policies, action in provinces and exchange on international best practices
The expert exchanges showcased a broad range of methodologies and best practices for advancing climate adaptation efforts. Climate Analytics presented a six-step Climate Risk Assessment (CRA) methodology, emphasizing iterative learning, the integration of qualitative data, and the value of community-based risk perceptions. In Guangxi, researchers are developing a climate risk index system for mangrove ecosystems, designed to support long-term resilience planning along China’s coastal regions. Other contributions focused on adaptation in mountain ecosystems, addressing emerging risks such as increased rainfall variability, power supply instability, and wetland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The exchanges also highlighted cross-country insights on risk assessments, policy frameworks, and implementation strategies. Researchers from Climate Analytics underscored the potential of digital tools and city-level innovations, including early warning apps, gamified climate education, and AI-powered urban greening, to enhance adaptation planning and increase public engagement.
The exchanges helped to further tailor the forthcoming series of Climate Change Adaptation Guides for Practitioners according to the partners’ needs. The guides will summarize international best practices and serve as a reference for provincial policy research in China – shared with local research institutions and government departments – while also providing practical guidance for a global audience of experts interested in adaptation planning.
Urban adaptation in Chengdu: how a city adapts to global warming
On the second day, the participants were taken out of the conference room and into the urban landscapes of the park city of Chengdu, where climate adaptation is already being integrated into planning, infrastructure, and design. The city has implemented the concept through various measures. As of 2023, Chengdu has increased its greenery and landscape by 18.33 square kilometers, and now has a total of 1,556 parks of different types [1].
At the Tianfu Greenway Planning Exhibition Center, participants learned about the strategic vision behind the greenway: a citywide network of ecological corridors that support recreation, and climate regulation. These spaces also aim to increase public health, wellbeing and adaptation awareness, offering cooling zones and natural buffers against extreme weather.
At China Southwest Architecture Design & Research Institute (CSWADI) delegates examined a climate-adaptive building retrofit project. The renovation integrates passive design strategies, improved insulation, rainwater harvesting, and local vegetation to enhance building resilience to rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. Experts from CSWADI explained how these design elements reduce cooling demand, improve indoor comfort during heatwaves.
Anchoring adaptation in design, participation, and local realities
To support local adaptation policy and action, a few common themes emerged:
- Nature-based solutions—such as the Tianfu Greenway—are central to effective urban adaptation and can deliver immediate, tangible benefits to citizens.
- Climate-resilient design and architecture, as seen at CSWADI, play an important role in mainstreaming adaptation into everyday spaces.
- Localization and participation matter. Adaptation strategies must be tailored to specific climates, cultural contexts, and socio-political conditions—and they must involve local communities, not only experts.
- Data and tools, including AI and CRA frameworks, are enabling smarter, more responsive adaptation planning.
The exchanges highlighted that both countries can learn valuable lessons from each other’s approaches to climate adaptation. For example, Germany can draw inspiration from China’s large-scale, integrated implementation of nature-based solutions, as seen in Chengdu’s Tianfu Greenway. This citywide network of ecological corridors offers a model for rapidly scaling up green infrastructure to provide urban cooling, stormwater management, and accessible public recreation spaces. Such large-scale planning demonstrates how strategic investment can quickly transform urban landscapes to enhance climate resilience.
Conversely, China can benefit from Germany’s experience with locally driven, participatory approaches to adaptation planning. In many German cities, adaptation strategies are developed through close collaboration with local communities, ensuring that plans are tailored to specific neighborhood needs and that residents have a sense of ownership over new green spaces and infrastructure.
By exchanging diverse perspectives and experiences, the workshop encouraged participants to think critically about how to adapt international practices to local realities. This spirit of mutual learning aims to strengthen the capacity of both countries to develop adaptation policies that are effective, equitable, and locally relevant, while also contributing to shared global knowledge on climate resilience.
Looking forward: Practical application and policy recommendations
As the Sino-German cooperation on climate adaptation deepens, this exchange is helping turn adaptation planning into real, on-the-ground action. The workshop’s outcomes will directly support the development and implementation of provincial adaptation strategies and action plans in Guangxi, Shaanxi, and Sichuan, helping local governments address climate risks more effectively. It will also contribute to refining and applying robust risk and vulnerability assessment approaches that can guide evidence-based policymaking. Combined with the forthcoming Climate Adaptation Guides for Practitioners, these results will provide essential tools and knowledge to strengthen provincial climate policy processes, ensuring that subnational action is aligned with China’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and delivers meaningful, measurable progress on climate resilience.
This activity is part of the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC implementation project, a bilateral cooperation project commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) as part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI), cooperating with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (MEE) and jointly implemented by GIZ and China’s National Centre for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC).
[1] UNESCO 2024: Creative Cities Network (UCCN), Reporting Exercise 2024, Chengdu
