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On behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI)
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Project Overview

Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation

As the world’s largest  emitter of greenhouse gases annually, China’s success in reducing emissions and achieving its climate goals are essential for achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement to keep the rise in global temperature well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C. China’s target to peak its emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060 lays the foundation for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While the national climate targets send a strong signal for charting a path towards decarbonization, great challenges persist in establishing the legal and regulatory framework as well as appropriate supporting policies to facilitate implementation. On the local level in particular, the necessary know-how and capacities to implement efficient and effective measures for mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to the impacts of climate change are lacking at times.

 

Against this backdrop, the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation (NDCI) project informs the comprehensive implementation of China’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), as well as the climate policies and measures formulated in China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (FYP) and supports enhanced climate policy coordination and implementation across national and subnational levels of government. Facilitating the exchange between Chinese, German and European representatives from government, academia and think tanks as well as the private sector, the project aims to contribute to ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, early emissions peaking and long-term decarbonisation of the Chinese economy. In addition, the project engages with provinces and cities for a dialogue on how to assess the risks associated with climate change and formulate local climate adaptation strategies. Thus, it aims to strengthen resilience and limit the vulnerability of people, infrastructure, local economies and natural ecosystems to the impacts of a changing climate.

The project serves as a platform for bilateral exchange in the fields of climate governance and legislation, climate change mitigation and adaptation as well as climate finance and investment. It also acts as the interface for projects under the German government’s International Climate Initiative (IKI) active in China, providing a platform for networking, sharing of knowledge and information.   

The Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation is a bilateral project of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and cooperating with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China (MEE) as political partner on Chinese side. Implementation is led by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH together with China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC). Climate Analytics and NewClimate Institute support the project with international expertise and climate policy advisory. In addition, the project works with several sectoral partners from China and Germany as well as provincial Departments of Ecology and Environment and local think tanks to support research for climate action on the ground.

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Project Factsheet
DURATION
09/2020

01/2026
Commissioned by
BMWK+IKI_FZ_Web_en

What we work on

  • Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation

    Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

    Effectively implementing mitigation targets on the provincial and municipal levels of governance and throughout its industrial sectors is essential for China to achieve its national climate targets. However, on subnational level the know-how and capabilities dedicated for implementing China’s NDCs are still in need of further improvement and refinement. Therefore, the project focuses on cooperation with sectoral partners and seven partner provinces to advance emissions reductions and decarbonization efforts on the local level. It provides international best practices and lessons-learned, assessments and policy recommendations tailored to local governments and hosts knowledge exchanges between experts in Germany and China. In its focus on the decarbonization of the cement industry, the project adopts a multi-pronged approach: a) promoting an exchange on the regulatory and policy framework for reducing emissions on national level; b) advising selected provinces on cement sector decarbonization strategy and roadmaps; and c) facilitating a pilot at a cement manufacturing plant in adopting state-of-the-art energy efficiency measures. In addition, the project’s GHG mitigation efforts include activities on several key areas: supporting the development of methane emission reduction plans, promoting emission reductions in the transportation sector, accelerating the adoption of renewable energy and the phasing out of coal in residential heating, advancing structural transformation and just transition at the county level, and fostering synergies between pollution control and GHG reduction in industrial parks.
  • Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation

    Climate Governance and Legislation

    The project brings together German and Chinese officials and experts for a dialogue on climate policy and legislation, institutional governance as well as coordination mechanisms aiming to strengthen the foundation for climate action in China. It provides international best practices and lessons-learned as a reference for Chinese policy-makers, while taking into account the interplay of different administrative levels of climate governance – including the EU, national and subnational levels. Through studies and workshops, the project delivers relevant knowledge and applicable experiences to the political partner on Chinese side, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, and its counterparts on subnational level as well as relevant think tanks and advisory bodies. The Chinese government is determined to strengthen its legislative framework for climate policy and has been engaging in intensive international exchange and research. The project therefore facilitates expert exchange on the German national climate protection law as well as the relevant laws on subnational level (i.e. Bundesländer, federal states) in order to effectively and comprehensively protect the climate and the environment. This dialogue is complemented by an exchange on German experiences with litigation in the field of climate law as well as practical exchanges in the course of study tours.
  • Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation

    Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change

    China is highly exposed to the adverse effects of climate change, with many regions and cities especially exposed and vulnerable due to their geography and local conditions. Many localities are facing more frequent extreme weather, such as extreme heat and rain, and the rise of temperatures and sea levels, while often lacking comprehensive planning of how to adapt to the changing climate. Adaptation at subnational level is an essential part of China’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035 and a high priority of the Chinese government. To support the development and implementation of local-level adaptation policies and action plans, the project works together with local governments and research centres in three Chinese provinces. Through connecting them with international experts in the field and providing best practice examples from Europe, such as methodological support for climate impact and risk assessments, and the development of measures for strengthening the resilience of ecosystems, the project supports its partners in creating adaptation plans tailored to local needs. In addition, the project contributes to the development of an indicator system for monitoring and evaluating adaptation efforts at national level which will facilitate evidence-based policymaking.
  • Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation

    Climate Finance and Investment

    The project is supporting partner regions and cities in China to improve their climate investment and finance strategies and their access to climate finance in line with local needs. The project has facilitated international symposiums and policy dialogues in various local climate finance and investment pilots, including in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Beijing. By providing best-practice examples from Germany and the EU on city climate finance, corporate carbon accounting and other topics, the project informs and strengthens the competence of local decisionmakers and relevant stakeholders to mobilize and leverage additional investments for climate action.
  • Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation

    IKI Interface

    The project also acts as an interface for the International Climate Initiative (IKI) in China promoting networking and knowledge sharing among IKI projects of various implementing organisations active here. Dialogue and exchange between IKI projects as well as with the wider climate and environment community in China are fostered through various events and communication channels. Through the quarterly IKI China Newsletter, the climatecooperation.cn website, our WeChat channel, and various other communication channels, the project regularly shares policy news and project updates from the IKI in China to inform interested stakeholders and the general public.

Mitigation in Shandong

Land Area: 155,800 km2, Population: 101.23 million

GDP per capita (2023): 90.950 CNY [ca. 11.800 EUR]
With coal consumption accounting for over 50% and limited oil and gas resources, Shandong’s energy structure is primarily based on fossil fuels. The province’s economic activity causes large energy consumption and high CO2 emissions, offering a great potential for emission reduction. To this end, with its local partner, the Ecology Institute of Shandong Academy of Sciences, the project has conducted a comparison between Chinese and German climate policies to provide informed policy recommendations to local climate authorities.

In addition, the project is also facilitating an exchange with government officials and experts from Shandong on methane emissions reduction policy and regulatory framework. Methane emissions from the power, waste, and agricultural sectors in Shandong are high and there is great mitigation potential. The project is conducting research on the province’s current methane emissions profile and effective mitigation strategies, drawing on German best practices and promoting the establishment of a reliable system for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of emissions.

Mitigation and Adaptation in Shaanxi

Area: 205,624 km2, Population: 39.54 million

GDP per capita (2023): 85.447 CNY [ca. 11.100 EUR]
Shaanxi is an important region for mining, processing and supplying coal to the rest of China and has a large manufacturing sector. The province has been actively pursuing the low carbon transformation of its economy and industry but faces hurdles to implementation on the county level. Therefore, the project cooperates with two counties, Meixian County, characterized by large agriculture and manufacturing industries, and Linyou County, where coal mining and thermal power generation are prominent. To provide policy recommendations for the provincial Department of Ecology and Environment to promote early emissions peaking and low-carbon development in Shaanxi, the project cooperates with Xi’an Shiyou University on the development of roadmaps for low carbon development on the county level.

To facilitate progress in urban climate change adaptation in Shaanxi province and beyond, the project is facilitating research and analysis on the challenges of a changing climate and respective countermeasures in Tongchuan City.

Mitigation in Anhui

Area: 140,100 km2, Population: 61.21 million

GDP per capita (2023): 76.830 CNY [ca. 9.900 EUR]
As an energy-intensive and high-emission industry, the production process of cement is responsible for approximately 12%-13% of the total carbon emissions in China. Anhui is the largest cement clinker producing province in China, ranking first nationally for 15 consecutive years. Therefore, research on carbon emission reduction policy for the cement industry is crucial for Anhui – and China overall – to achieve its climate targets.

The project cooperates with the Anhui Provincial Academy of Eco-Environmental Science Research in order to develop pathways for low-carbon development of the cement industry in Anhui. In addition, the project facilitated trainings on the application of the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) tool to enable the scientifically-sound modelling of emission reduction scenarios for the future development of the cement sector in Anhui as a foundation for the formulation of policies to facilitate its mid- to long-term decarbonization

Adaptation in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region

Land Area: 237,600 km2, Population: 50.27 million

GDP per capita (2023): 54.005 CNY [ca. 7.000 EUR]
Mangroves are unique forests that have developed in the brackish water of the coastal intertidal zone where normal trees cannot thrive, providing nurseries for fish, habitats for a large variety of species and important ecosystem functions. Crucially, natural mangrove forests also sequester large amounts of carbon and have been recognized as a nature-based solution to the changing climate, functioning not just as important carbon sink but also protecting coastlines.

Guangxi is a key region for mangroves in China, hosting 33% of the country's total mangrove forests. Yet Guangxi’s mangroves are highly exposed and vulnerable to the effects of climate change, such as increased frequency and intensity of coastal storms as well as rising temperatures and sea levels. By supporting the Scientific Research Academy of Guangxi Environmental Protection in the development of a vulnerability evaluation index system for mangrove areas, the project aims to enhance the climate resilience of Guangxi’s mangroves and to contribute to the protection of these sensitive ecosystems from the adverse effects of climate change.

Mitigation in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

Area: 1,183,000 km2, Population: 23.96 million

GDP per capita (2023): 102.677 CNY [ca. 13.300 EUR]
Inner Mongolia energy system is characterized by a high dependence on coal for heating, of which the project’s partner cities Hulun Buir and Ordos are typical examples. At the same time, Inner Mongolia offers great untapped potential for expansion of renewable energy in heating. The phasing down – and ultimately out – of burning coal for heating can greatly improve air quality and health conditions in the region, while reducing climate impacts and contributing to achieving Chinas NDC. However, there are also challenges, as urbanisation, rising living standards and a growing population lead to a rapidly rising residential heat demand in Inner Mongolia.

With support from the Eco-environment Low-carbon Development Center of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the project developed a study on pathways for low-carbon heating, which highlighted that solar, thermal, and electric heat pumps could deliver zero-emissions heating at scale to Inner Mongolia. However, it also highlighted the need for piloting and demonstration, increased support and clearer promotion of such technologies to overcome cost barriers and avoid carbon lock-in.

Mitigation and Adaptation in Sichuan

Area: 486,000 km2, Population: 83.68 million

GDP per capita (2023): 71.835 CNY [ca. 9.300 EUR]
Sichuan Province has rich energy resources and a large industrial economy. Situated along the Sichuan Basin, the upper reaches of the Yangtze and Yellow rivers, and the Qinghai-Tibet-Plateau, it has a variable geography that is highly sensitive to climate change. The project supports Sichuan province both in climate mitigation and adaptation. Focusing on the cement sector, a traditional heavy industry with great importance for emission reduction, the project cooperates with Sichuan Academy of Environmental Policy and Planning drawing on international best practices to increase efficiency and reduce both pollution and carbon emissions. Based on an evaluation of the challenges of the cement industry in Sichuan, decarbonization pathways are developed also making use of market mechanisms to enable the reduction of CO2 emissions.

In the field of adaptation, based on an assessment of the impact and risks of climate change for the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and the city of Chengdu strategies to adapt are developed. At the same time, the project promotes an exchange between Chinese and international research teams and policy advisors to improve methodologies for monitoring climate change and adopt policies to strengthen resilience tailored to local needs.

Mitigation in Guangdong

Land Area: 179,800 km2, Population: 127.06 million

GDP per capita (2023): 106.986 CNY [ca. 13.900 EUR]
Methane is the second-largest greenhouse gas in Guangdong Province. In 2020, waste management accounted for approximately 47% of methane emissions in Guangdong, making it the largest source, followed by agricultural activities at around 45%. To address this issue, Guangdong Province issued the Methane Emission Control Work Plan in August 2024, aiming to establish a policy, technology, and standards framework for methane emission control by 2025.

To support Guangdong Province in achieving its methane reduction targets, the project is conducting research on the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) framework for methane emissions in collaboration with Guangdong University of Technology. The project provides German expertise and experiences to advance the formulation of effective methane mitigation strategies and contribute international references for the identification of suitable methane control technologies.

Mitigation in Hunan

Area: 211,800 km2, Population: 65.68 million

GDP per capita (2023): 75.938 CNY [ca. 9.800 EUR]
Carbon emissions from the transportation sector have increased in recent years and now account for more than 10% of China's total carbon emissions. The project cooperates with Hunan Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, on the development of a roadmap to facilitate early carbon dioxide emissions peaking and long-term decarbonization of the transportation sector in Hunan. As Hunan aims to use the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) model for scenario development and climate change mitigation assessment to inform transport policymaking, the project hosted a number of tailored modelling trainings for local researchers. The research will integrate international best practices and lessons-learned in low-carbon development in the transport sector and provide policy recommendations to political decisionmakers to promote the construction of a green and low-carbon transportation system in Hunan.

What we work on

Partners

News

Study tour to Europe facilitates exchange on methane emission mitigation

2025 04 16

As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen international cooperation on methane emission reduction, the “Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change: NDC Implementation (NDCI)” project hosted a study tour to Germany and France for a Chinese delegation of 15 participants from 23 to 30 March 2025. The delegation included representatives from the National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation (NCSC), Shandong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Guangdong Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment, Shandong Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Environmental Science Research Institute and the Inner Mongolia Center for Low-Carbon Development and Ecology, bringing together a diverse group of technical experts and government officials.

Read More »

Supporting climate change adaptation strategy and action on subnational level

2025 03 26

GIZ hosted three expert workshops from December 2024 to March 2025 in order to enable a peer-to-peer exchange between Chinese and international adaptation experts and support the implementation of China’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035 on local level. The workshops are part of a series of measures of the Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – NDC Implementation project facilitating action to assess the risks and strengthen the resilience of the project’s partner provinces Guangxi, Shaanxi and Sichuan to cope with the impacts of climate change. The exchange with the Chinese provinces was kicked off in 2024 with a series of workshops, field visits, and bilateral exchanges, and follows a study tour to Germany and the Netherlands. The global climate science and policy advisory Climate Analytics assists the project by bringing in international adaptation expertise. 

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The climate and environment community in Beijing jointly reflects on COP outcomes

2025 01 23

A key theme of the 2024 discussions at the COP16 on biodiversity and – to a lesser extent – at the COP29 on climate change was the importance of linking both communities to effectively address the global challenges. To reflect on COP outcomes as well as to facilitate exchange and collaboration between donors and implementers of the climate and environment community in Beijing, as part of its function as the interface for the IKI in China, the project organised a networking event on 11 December 2024.

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Publications

Carbon Accounting Frameworks in the EU and Germany

This report systematically introduces the experiences of these carbon accounting frameworks in the EU and Germany, offering insights into their characteristics, applications and opportunities for improvement.

What we work on

Climate Cooperation China
On behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI)

Contact Us

Email:
climatechangechina@giz.de
Address:
Sunflower Tower 1100 (11F)
37 Maizidian Street, Chaoyang District
100125 Beijing, PR China

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