As methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases and a major driver of climate change, China and Germany are intensifying their cooperation to advance emission reductions in this critical sector. Methane plays a pivotal role in achieving China’s climate goals, particularly in energy, agriculture, and waste management. Against this backdrop, the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation project works with the provinces of Guangdong and Shandong to develop effective subnational methane mitigation strategies and action plans.
To support this cooperation, the project convened an expert workshop in Jinan, Shandong Province, on 14 July 2025. Organised jointly by GIZ and the Shandong Academy of Sciences, the workshop provided a platform for policy dialogue, technical exchange, and the strengthening of research partnerships. Its main objective was to present provincial research on methane emissions, share international best practices, and discuss recommendations to facilitate implementation of China’s national “Methane Emissions Control Action Plan” on the local level.
Regional methane mitigation efforts in China
Drawing on international best practices and lessons-learned, Guangdong University of Technology and Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences) have been developing their own analyses, aimed at providing provincial governments with tailored policy recommendations to strengthen the monitoring and reduction of methane emissions.
During the workshop, experts presented preliminary results of their methane mitigation policy research in Shandong and Guangdong provinces. Structured around the upcoming studies’ key topics, the workshop highlighted:
- the status quo and recent trends of provincial methane emissions;
- the source and sector breakdown across energy, agriculture and waste;
- sector‑specific mitigation technologies and action inventories; and
- forward‑looking pathways and policy recommendations.
For Guangdong, the study details sectoral emission characteristics and drivers, screens appropriate technologies, and models baseline, policy and enhanced‑policy scenarios through 2035 to prioritize actions and inform a provincial control plan. Professor Zeng Xuelan highlighted notable achievements in methane control in landfill and wastewater treatment sectors. She emphasized the province’s experience in promoting methane capture technologies and policy support as a model for other regions.
For Shandong, the study sets out the province’s emissions profile and sectoral characteristics, pinpoints key challenges—such as ultra‑low‑concentration ventilation air methane in coal mining, fugitive leaks in oil and gas systems, diffuse livestock sources, and sludge‑related emissions in wastewater treatment—and proposes targeted technology pathways and enabling policies. Senior Engineer Shao Min presented the challenges and policy needs for managing low-concentration coal mine methane in Shandong, proposing targeted reduction strategies tailored to local conditions. Experts discussed the research outcomes from both provinces and offered suggestions for improving the policy and regulatory framework.
Researchers also presented methane reduction recommendations for the energy, agriculture, and municipal sectors in Shandong. They identified technical and policy limitations in coal mine methane control, recommending supportive policies and the promotion of applicable technologies, and shared successful cases of achieving environmental and economic benefits in livestock farming through technological innovation. The experts further discussed the importance of enhancing greenhouse gas monitoring and exploring emission reduction technologies in wastewater treatment to achieve green transformation in the sector.
International practices in methane mitigation
The workshop also featured international perspectives, with UPM sharing insights from European policy frameworks and case studies that will be detailed in two forthcoming reports.
Ms. Guo Gaiai, Head of Carbon Project Development at UPM, shared insights from their research into Germany’s and the European Union’s policy frameworks for methane emissions reduction and related practical experiences. She emphasized the EU’s Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) mechanisms for methane mitigation in the energy sector, as well as the widespread application of Leak Detection and Repair (LDAR) technologies, offering references for China’s own efforts. Experts also engaged in in-depth discussions on the current focus areas and future directions of China’s methane mitigation policies.
UPM further introduced typical methane reduction cases from Poland, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the EU in energy, waste treatment, and agriculture that will be featured in their upcoming study. Achievements in coal mine methane capture, electrification of offshore oil and gas platforms, wastewater treatment, and dairy farming were highlighted, offering valuable international experience for related fields in China. Experts exchanged on key technologies and policy practices in these cases, proposing localised adaptation strategies for China.
Field visits to explore biogas and wastewater treatment facilities
To complement the workshop discussions, participants conducted a field visit to Yantai on the following day to observe methane mitigation technologies in practice.
The delegation first visited Shandong Minhe Biological Technology Co., Ltd., where they learned about the company’s technical approaches and practical achievements in handling livestock and poultry waste and utilising biogas resources. In-depth discussions were held with technical personnel on technology promotion and large-scale application prospects.
The group then visited Taoziwan Wastewater Treatment Plant in Yantai to inspect the application of methane reduction technologies in urban wastewater treatment, especially the implementation of anaerobic digestion and biogas recovery. Technical staff provided detailed explanations of the process flow and control measures, and discussed with the delegation the future development of the wastewater treatment sector.
Outcomes from previous exchanges and next steps
The workshop built on earlier activities, including an expert exchange workshop in Guangzhou and a study tour to Germany and France. These exchanges facilitated dialogue between the Chinese provinces of Guangdong and Shandong and European experts, fostering learning and exchange to support the mitigation of methane emissions in China.
The workshop in Shandong not only promoted exchange and cooperation between Chinese and German experts but also provided concrete input for the next steps of the project. Building on the discussions, UPM and the provincial research teams in Guangdong and Shandong will conclude their research focusing on policy recommendations tailored to the local context. The studies will support provincial governments in implementing China’s Methane Emissions Control Action Plan and achieving the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
This activity is part of the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC implementation project, a bilateral cooperation project which is part of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), 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).
