The Sino-German Environmental Partnership Project is a bilateral cooperation project jointly implemented since 2013 by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) of the People’s Republic of China. The project is executed on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) Within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI). In September 2017, the Environmental Partnership Project has entered its second phase, which is extended to operate until 2021.

Objective: The Sino-German Environmental Partnership supports China in the designing of an effective environmental governance system to promote the transformation towards a low carbon economy through exchange of experiences and advice on air, soil and water pollution prevention and control, on strengthening sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-friendly production and consumption patterns, as well as environmental market-based approaches. The project strengthens institutional and individual capacities and thus contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals of the Agenda 2030.

The measures enhance the bilateral environmental dialogue with the Chinese Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED) with concrete policy concepts and solution-oriented approaches.

Approach: The Project offers demand-oriented advice and capacity building measures to the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED). CCICED is the key non-profit, international advisory body to the Chinese government that helps to develop and implement effective environmental policy. It provides further support in the developing process of the respective upcoming Five-Year Plans. Exchange of personnel, trainings and knowledge transfers are conducted in support to the advisory process, which strives to support the Chinese the transformation to an Ecological Civilization.

Multiplier Effect: Developed policy recommendations and elaborated solutions and approaches are taken up by MEE, its affiliated bodies as well as the CCICED and show their positive impacts at various administrative levels (national, provincial, local). Established alliances, cooperation and partnerships further enhance the up-scaling of project measures. Congruent laws and regulations, an integrated mix of environmental policy instruments as well as the inclusion of other stakeholders (such as economy and society) from the basis for a more rigorous implementation of China’s environmental policy stipulations and thus lead to a sustainable improvement of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Chinese environmental governance system.