Strengthening Chinese environmental and nature conservation policy through dialogue

Context

With its 14th Five-Year Plan (2021 to 2025), China has set ambitious targets in environmental protection and nature conservation and aims to improve its resource efficiency. The Chinese Government has already implemented various measures to reverse the environmental degradation of the past few decades. However, approaches aimed at reducing resource use are still in their infancy.

Moreover, it is often unclear which institutions bear responsibility for introducing political strategies and measures. This results in a sometimes sluggish implementation of environmental and nature conservation goals.

Objective

Environmental protection, nature conservation and resource efficiency measures in China are planned and implemented more effectively.

Approach

The project supports the Chinese environmental and nature conservation authorities along with relevant planning authorities. It also advises political decision makers as well as experts and managers. It encourages research, technical cooperation and the exchange of experience in the following areas:

• It promotes environmental policy dialogue between the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE). This takes place through the Sino-German Environmental Forum, for example, and events of the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED).
• The project provides advice and promotes specialist dialogue on environmental protection measures. This is aimed at monitoring and preventing soil, air and water pollution and expanding environmentally friendly production and resource-friendly patterns of consumption.
• It advises the MEE on how to protect biological diversity with the help of monitoring.
• With cofinancing from the European Union (EU), it supports the EU’s dialogue on the circular economy and resource efficiency with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Last update: February 2025