China is one of the priority countries of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) with an active portfolio of over 15 IKI projects. The “Sino-German Climate Change Cooperation – NDC Implementation” program serves as the knowledge hub for the IKI in China, promoting networking and exchange among IKI projects and facilitating exchange with political partners. In this role, it invited to this year’s IKI China Interface Workshop held on 20 and 22 January 2026 in Beijing.
On the occasion of the workshop, representatives from the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), the Federal Foreign Office (AA), and the IKI Office at Zukunft-Umwelt-Gesellschaft (ZUG) travelled to China to meet up with partners and implementers and discuss current status and perspectives for development of the IKI in China. Their presence enabled direct dialogue not only among project implementers, but also with the responsible ministries on strategic priorities and future directions for IKI cooperation.
The workshop was divided into two parts: the first session focused on the exchange among IKI projects and implementers, while the second session served to report project progress to the German and Chinese ministries.
Networking and strategic exchange among IKI projects
The networking session on 20 January brought together representatives of all IKI implementing organisations active in China, including GIZ, OECD, and UNDP, alongside German ministries and ZUG. Marking the 18th year of IKI engagement in China, the session took place against a backdrop of changing geopolitical, economic and institutional conditions, as well as the recent restructuring of the German government following last year’s elections. Participants discussed how IKI cooperation with China can remain effective, credible and mutually beneficial under increasingly complex circumstances.
In an open exchange, the representatives of German ministries and ZUG reaffirmed that the IKI Strategy 2030 remains valid and that China continues to be a focus country. Mitigation, adaptation, natural carbon sinks and biodiversity will remain core focus areas of the IKI worldwide, while close coordination between BMUKN and AA under a “Team Germany” approach will guide future engagement.
A central part of the workshop was an interactive session designed to foster collaborative discussions around three critical topics for future IKI cooperation with China. Participants split into groups to share their experiences and knowledge, reflect on challenges and opportunities they encountered and exchange on useful instruments to address these. The three groups explored:
- Modalities of cooperation: Participants emphasised the need for flexibility and innovation to adapt the mode of cooperation in an increasingly complex environment. They underlined the benefits of mutual exchange and learning between Germany and China.
- Cooperation with the private sector: Participants stressed the importance of creating win–win approaches, exploring joint pilots and exchanges around the harmonisation of standards. There is a need for strategic guidance on how to integrate private sector cooperation into IKI projects, in order to better align project log frames with private sector realities from the start. Successful examples of private sector involvement include cooperation between Chinese and German financial institutions, and engagement through business associations.
- Promoting gender equity: Exchange focused on practical approaches such as mentoring programmes and vocational training, while acknowledging sensitivities and data constraints. Participants also highlighted the usefulness of quotas and requirements on gender reporting.
Overall, the networking session strengthened connections across the IKI portfolio, enabled cross-sectoral exchange, and clarified expectations following institutional changes.
Sharing project achievements with political partners
In the session on 22 January, bilateral and regional projects presented their recent achievements and milestones to representatives of the responsible Chinese and German ministries since the last IKI Interface Workshop in August 2024, and gave an overview on planned activities for 2026. In addition, an outlook was given on three new projects that have recently been approved and are planned to start later this year, focusing on circular economy and climate change, respectively.
The ministry representatives underlined that climate change and environment cooperation is a very important aspect of the relations between the two countries and highlighted the enduring commitment to strengthen the bilateral exchange despite geopolitical headwinds. They also emphasised their commitment to shouldering responsibilities together in the pursuit of shared climate objectives.
The IKI Interface plays an important role in fostering long-term cooperation and trust between China and Germany, ensuring continued progress on climate action and biodiversity protection. To connect the IKI community in China, the Interface regularly organises exchange formats, such as the annual IKI Interface and IKI Networking workshops. More information about the IKI in China and the active projects can be found here.
