China and the EU – new alliances for climate action?

06. October 2020, Hybrid

Background

2020 should have been the 'climate super year', but the COVD-19 virus has massively disrupted major economic areas such as the European Union and China, both of which were heavily affected by the pandemic. Especially now, during this critical phase for international climate policy, how can the EU and China set positive accents and forge new alliances for more climate action?

As Germany currently holds the EU presidency, the country has a unique opportunity to shape EU policy together with its partners.

China has become increasingly aware of the consequences - not only within its own borders - of climate change and is prepared to assume a leading role and take international responsibility in implementing the Paris Climate Agreement.

Within this context, the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and the German Energy Agency (dena) are organising a pivotal event with leading figures and high-ranking guests, both from China and Germany, as well as prominent guests from around the world. The discussions will be conducted both on-site as well as via a dedicated online platform.

Event format

  • It will be possible to connect via common video conferencing tools, for example: Zoom, WebEx, Skype etc

Date and location

  • 6 October 2020, 9:15 am to 11:30 am
  • Weltsaal (in the Foreign Office) / virtual platform

Programme items

  •  Welcome / Greetings (Foreign Office / Chinese Embassy)
  • Moderation: dena’s Chief Executive, Andreas Kuhlmann, leads participants through the programme
  • Panel discussion sessions: Representatives from politics (AA / EU / BMU / COP26) as well as science, media, think tanks (PIK / IGDP / Handelsblatt / MERICS)
  • Live broadcasts / video messages from the German Ambassador in Beijing, Clemens von Goetze
  • Questions from the audience live / via chat-function
  •  Get together on-site / virtual

Topics

  • Climate protection in the 5-year plan and Green Deal
  • Green recovery in the EU and China
  •  Environmental standards and Green Finance
  • Climate Policy in third countries
  •  Strategies for COP26

Audience / target groups

  • Members of the Bundestag, ministries, industry, industry associations, science, foundations and NGOs
  • EU representatives, national and international think tanks
  • Representatives from Chinese Government organisations
  •  Representatives from Government organisations from other countries

Content and goals

Experts from politics, science and society talk about the potential of a Chinese-EU alliance for better climate action. Current developments will be outlined and discussed, such as the climate and environmental policy priorities of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), connecting points of green recovery programmes in China and the EU, and possible cooperations with other countries in the field of energy and climate policy.

Further information can be found in the Downloads section.