On 4 December 2025, representatives of NGO’s, international organisations, philanthropies and academia gathered in Beijing to reflect on the outcomes of COP30 and progress in China’s efforts to preserve biodiversity under the 14th Five-Year Plan. The meeting served as a platform for networking, sharing of perspectives and exchange on key focus areas for international engagement on climate change and biodiversity with China in 2026 and beyond.
Takeaways from COP30
COP30 in Belém, marking the tenth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, unfolded amid geopolitical tensions, fiscal pressures and diverging national priorities that have complicated collective climate action. Despite these headwinds and visible divisions on finance, mitigation pathways and trade-related measures, Parties adopted the Belém Political Package. The package contains decisions on adaptation, just transition and climate finance, and it reflects continued debate on trade-related unilateral measures. It also advances work on mitigation and cooperative initiatives among groups of countries. While outcomes fell short of some Parties’ expectations, particularly regarding a roadmap to transition away from fossil fuels, the conference reaffirmed the central role of the Paris Agreement and the continued relevance of multilateral engagement.
Dr. Zhang Jian of Tsinghua University observed that COP30 underscored a gradual shift from headline pledges toward implementation, particularly following the first Global Stocktake. He noted increased attention to delivery mechanisms, transparency and sector-specific pathways, alongside growing recognition of the urgency of action given current temperature trajectories. At the same time, plurilateral initiatives were highlighted as a complementary channel for advancing cooperation where multilateral consensus proves incremental. Dr. Zhang also emphasised the role of academic institutions in supporting climate governance through evidence-based research, capacity building and dialogue platforms. Initiatives such as the China–Germany Climate Summer Camp were cited as examples of how universities can contribute to sustained international exchange and the development of future climate leaders.
Biodiversity progress and priorities under China’s Five Year Plans
Ms. Yiqi Yuan from Kunshan University reviewed biodiversity developments under China’s 14th Five-Year Plan, highlighting continued afforestation programmes, steady expansion of forest coverage, and initiatives aimed at enhancing carbon sequestration and ecosystem restoration. She noted that these efforts form part of a broader attempt to align biodiversity conservation with climate mitigation objectives. At the same time, she identified areas where further progress is needed, including the operationalisation of benefit-sharing arrangements for Digital Sequence Information (DSI), the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), and the implementation of gender-related targets.
Participants underscored the growing recognition of the climate–biodiversity nexus, pointing to nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation as key instruments for delivering co-benefits across mitigation, adaptation and conservation goals. Ongoing efforts to integrate ecosystem services into climate planning and policy frameworks were seen as an important step in this direction. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan, priorities under discussion include reinforcing ecological security frameworks, refining ecological conservation redlines, enhancing ecological compensation mechanisms, and further consolidating the national protected areas system.
The workshop concluded with an exchange on inclusive approaches to adaptation and biodiversity management, underlining the importance of actively engaging local communities, farmers and other stakeholders in planning and implementation. Building on the COP30 discussions on adaptation finance and the implementation gap, participants highlighted the need to translate international commitments into locally grounded measures such as strengthening monitoring systems, improving access to adaptation finance, and aligning biodiversity targets with climate mitigation and adaptation strategies under China’s Five-Year Plans. Reflecting on China’s recent biodiversity progress, they also pointed to practical steps including refining ecological compensation mechanisms, integrating ecosystem services into climate planning, and enhancing transparency in data and reporting.
Linking biodiversity and climate communities, and embedding these exchanges in sustained international dialogue, was recognised as a powerful opportunity to enhance policy coherence and accelerate mutual learning. The IKI Interface for China will continue to support this effort by convening stakeholders, facilitating structured exchange and promoting practical cooperation across climate and biodiversity agendas.
The IKI Interface, implemented by the NDC Implementation project, 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.
