From 8 to 15 September 2024, GIZ’s “Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation” project hosted a study tour on climate change adaptation to Germany and the Netherlands.
As the impacts of climate change intensify, countries and communities must rapidly enhance their capacities for adaptation to more extreme weather events and rising sea levels. In June 2022, China published its “National Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 2035”, providing a comprehensive plan for adaptation to climate change until 2035. By May 2024, China identified 39 pilot cities for climate change adaptation. The Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC implementation project strengthens capacities on a subnational level, particularly in the provinces of Guangxi, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, through exchanges on international experiences and best practices.
To this end, a study tour to Germany and Netherlands consisting of 12 participants from the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), Shanxi Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Yanbian Prefecture Ecological Environment Bureau, Scientific Research Academy of Guangxi Environmental Protection, Sichuan Academy of Environmental Policy and Planning, Shaanxi Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, and Tongchuan Ecology and Environment Bureau was organised. The study tour provided participants with insights into climate adaptation strategies in Europe. Through in-depth discussions with experts from regulatory bodies, think tanks, and institutions, the study tour explored key adaptation policies and practices at both the national and municipal levels.
Starting in Berlin, participants engaged with German climate adaptation experts of Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the German Environment Agency (UBA) and gained insights into Germany’s climate adaptation governance and policy processes. The Chinese National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC) introduced China’s Climate Change Adaptation Policy and local actions. German and Chinese experts exchanged views on climate risk assessment methodologies as well as implementation mechanisms for climate adaptation.
Workshop with UBA © GIZ East Asia Climate Team
In Berlin, the participants also visited the science and policy institute Climate Analytics and discussed the EU’s climate adaptation policies and best practices in adaptation research. Further discussions were held at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) focussing on the latest research and practices on urban heat islands and climate-resilient urban planning.
Workshop with CA © GIZ East Asia Climate Team
Workshop with PIK © GIZ East Asia Climate Team
After three days in Berlin, the group travelled to Hamburg and the federal state of Lower Saxony, including a visit to the Hamburg port, where rising sea levels and storm surges present significant challenges. A meeting with the Ministry for Environment, Climate Protection, and Energy of Lower Saxony explored various adaptation topics, including climate-resilient urban planning, adaptation policies, and climate finance. The Wadden Sea – an intertidal zone located on the coastline of the North Sea – has undergone significant human-induced changes and was a key point of the discussion. Representatives from the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) shared their expertise on climate resilience in Hamburg and the Baltic region.
Workshop with GERICS © GIZ East Asia Climate Team
The final leg of the study tour took place in the Netherlands, beginning with Rotterdam. At the Global Adaptation Center, participants learned about flagship projects in Africa and the role of climate risk assessments in projects such as the Zambian port and the St. Louis Highway. The tour also visited Rotterdam’s Water Square and the Keringhuis flood protection system, as well as the Zaanse Schans near Amsterdam, to gain insights into water management adaptation in the Netherlands.
Site visit at Keringhuis ©GIZ East Asia Climate Team
Throughout the eight-day study tour, participants engaged in expert dialogues on regulatory frameworks, interdepartmental coordination mechanisms, and strategic actions for climate change adaptation. Field visits offered a practical understanding of successful adaptation strategies in Germany and the Netherlands. The tour strengthened mutual understanding between China and Germany and laid the groundwork for deeper cooperation on climate adaptation.
