Climate action and environmental protection represent a pivotal theme in international cooperation: we can only ensure that the Earth remains habitable if we work together. Climate change and environmental degradation are exacerbating existing problems such as water scarcity and crop failures. This creates economic pressure and can fuel conflicts.
One planet, one responsibility
Prosperity, security and climate action are closely interlinked. Investing together in the global energy transition and climate adaptation provides stable answers in an unstable world.
World Economic Forum lists the risks
This is corroborated by the Global Risks Report, an annual publication of the Davos-based World Economic Forum, which analyses the greatest risks worldwide. The report sees the major short-term risks as geoeconomic confrontation, misinformation and disinformation and societal polarisation. Over a ten-year horizon, however, environmental risks such as biodiversity loss and the impacts of climate change are ranked highest.
Climate action and environmental protection are therefore no trivial matter, but are fundamental to safeguarding the future. Although acute crises may attract a lot of attention, protecting our planet remains a long-term undertaking and the shared responsibility of the global community.
GIZ – linking investments
Accordingly, GIZ is entrusted at a global level with driving forward initiatives in support of nature conservation and a climate-friendly society. We work with governments, businesses and civil society to ensure that the future opportunities afforded to people, economic development and environmental wellbeing are aligned. In so doing, we make strategic use of public funds to channel private capital into climate-friendly and environmentally friendly technologies.
Driving forward the global energy transition
The global energy transition is a key field of activity. Moving away from fossil fuels not only protects the environment and climate. Generating electric power from wind and solar energy is now economically viable. The transformation of the energy sector also reduces dependency on oil and gas exporting countries. There are many good reasons to favour clean local energy solutions, especially for countries in the Global South, that offer excellent potential for renewables themselves and have to use scarce foreign exchange to pay for energy imports.
On behalf of multi-donor platforms, that is, alliances of public donors such as states, development banks and foundations that pool their resources, GIZ works to advance climate objectives. As part of the European Union’s Global Gateway Initiative, GIZ supports the expansion of sustainable energy infrastructure in the Global South and mobilises private investment through the Global Energy Transformation Programme (GET.pro), which in turn supports countries in Africa and Latin America in planning, financing and implementing the energy transition.
© GIZ Staff
Sustainable and decentralised energy solutions also offer advantages in areas affected by conflict. Not only are they environmentally friendly, they are also more difficult to attack than large-scale power plants.
Ukraine illustrates how relevant this is. Russia has been systematically bombing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure for more than four years. Ukraine’s response has been to turn increasingly to decentralised renewable energies – in part with the support of GIZ. A maternity clinic in Kyiv, for instance, has been fitted out with solar panels and battery storage systems to bridge power cuts.
Protecting forests and biodiversity
The protection of forests and biodiversity is another priority area for GIZ. Forests are indispensable in the fight against global warming. They act as a sink for huge quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2), stabilise soils, provide protection against flooding and are treasure troves of biodiversity. One example is the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. Here, together with Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), GIZ supports the Brazilian Development Bank in the management of the Amazon Fund, bringing together technical and financial cooperation in a way that produces results.
Green jobs – specialists for a climate-friendly economy
A successful transition to a green economy also requires trained experts. Whether for installing wind turbines, operating solar power plants or maintaining battery systems, the energy transition has specific requirements in terms of training and skills. A climate-friendly economy can create millions of new jobs. This is where the Global Initiative on Jobs & Skills for the New Economy comes in. The Initiative was launched in 2025 at the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil, with GIZ as a co-founder.
Energy projects particularly successful
The success of GIZ’s work in the energy sector is demonstrated by its latest Evaluation Report. Of the 150 projects assessed, energy projects were rated particularly positively. Our portfolio is broad-based and strategic, ranging from wind power to green hydrogen and from solar panels to clean cooking stoves.
Staying power
Change takes time. Persevering to achieve a goal is one of GIZ’s strengths – and history backs this up. When the hole in the ozone layer became a global threat 40 years ago, a disaster seemed inevitable. Through international cooperation and the switch to natural coolants, disaster was averted. On behalf of the German Development Ministry (BMZ) and other donors, GIZ has been working since 1995 to support 60 countries in implementing climate-friendly natural cooling technology through the Proklima programme. With the Green Cooling Initiative, GIZ has established a global network with over 200 partners.
When it comes to environmental protection and climate action, the transition is possible if we work together to make it systematic, fair and fact-based. GIZ is working to achieve these goals worldwide.
GIZ works worldwide - for this project here:
This project focuses on the following GIZ work priorities:
The project contributes to these Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations:
