By providing public funding through its development policy, Germany is making an important contribution to the global implementation of the Paris Agreement. These funds from Germany are assisting its partner countries and organisations such as the Green Climate Fund or the Global Environment Facility in implementing measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the consequences of climate change.

Climate change is causing an increase in devastating weather events such as flooding or droughts. They are a particular threat for people living in low-income countries, who are often defenceless in the face of such disasters. The countries concerned are requesting support from industrialised countries. The G7 countries have therefore agreed to set up a Global Shield against Climate Risks.

Germany is engaged worldwide in supporting efforts to achieve a socially just transition towards climate-neutral societies and economies. Climate and Development Partnerships are a key part of Germany’s development policy. Partners are both emerging economies that produce a lot of greenhouse gas emissions and developing countries that are especially engaged in climate action.

Global greenhouse gas emissions need to go down dramatically. At the same time, energy demand is rising in developing countries and emerging economies. Energy is the key foundation for economic and social development. In order to provide a sustainable supply for all in the future, that energy will need to be climate neutral. That is why the BMZ has been working for a global energy transition and supporting the efforts of partner countries to expand renewable energies.

Germany is engaged worldwide in supporting efforts to achieve a socially just transition towards climate-neutral societies and economies. Climate and Development Partnerships are a key part of Germany’s development policy. Partners are both emerging economies that produce a lot of greenhouse gas emissions and developing countries that are especially engaged in climate action.

Right now, more than 40 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions are caused by agri-food systems – for instance through land use changes, food production and packaging, or transport and consumption. The BMZ is working for a socially fair and ecologically sustainable transformation of agri-food systems.

In 2022, the G7 recognised that vulnerable developing countries need more support for dealing with climate-related damage. A Global Shield against Climate Risks is meant to gather activities in the field of climate risk insurance and preparedness together under one roof. As a result, those who urgently need assistance when disaster strikes will be able to access help more easily and more quickly.

The BMZ is supporting ambitious partner countries with bilateral climate and development partnerships (P+) and multilateral partnerships under a G7 framework (Just Energy Transition Partnerships, JETPs). Partners are both emerging economies that produce a lot of greenhouse gas emissions and developing countries that are especially engaged in climate action.

At the core of the Paris Agreement are the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). All parties to the agreement have committed to setting targets to illustrate their plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. Germany was one of the founders of the global NDC Partnership. The Partnership assists developing countries in defining their NDCs, making them gradually more ambitious, and achieving them.

Supporters of the Development and Climate Alliance founded by the BMZ are promoting climate protection projects in developing countries and emerging economies. They are given climate protection certificates in return that testify to what extent greenhouse gas emissions have been saved. This allows them to offset the emissions they cannot avoid.

The BMZ’s “Green People’s Energy for Africa” initiative contributes to setting up decentralised energy systems on the basis of renewable sources in rural areas of Africa. It does so by working closely with citizens, cooperatives, municipalities and small and medium-sized enterprises.

The Energising Development (EnDev) energy partnership is aimed at creating “energy for people, for economic development and for the climate” and aims to give 28.5 million people access to modern, climate-neutral and affordable energy by 2025.

With the initiative “Green people's energy for Africa”, the BMZ wants to improve the conditions for a decentralised energy supply in rural areas in selected countries in Africa and involve citizens and companies in the process. In Uganda, primary schools are to be supplied with climate-neutral solar energy.

Bangladesh is one of the countries that will be most strongly affected by climate change. Rising sea levels threaten to leave one fifth of the country permanently under water. On top of that, its population density is already one of the highest in the world. German development cooperation activities are supporting the efforts of cities in Bangladesh to adapt to climate change

The Pacific island states themselves contribute little to global warming, but because of their location they suffer greatly from the consequences. In Narikoso, a village in Fiji, the coastline has shifted 15 metres inland over the past 30 years. Therefore, a resettlement was decided, which is supported by a cooperation between the EU and BMZ.

Kenya has been severely affected by the impacts of climate change. Economic losses due to crop failure and dwindling herds have a devastating impact on communities that are already vulnerable. Under the NDC Partnership, the BMZ is supporting the implementation of Kenya's National Climate Change Action Plan.

Outside the islands of Java and Bali, and especially in the less developed east of Indonesia, many people still have no access to electricity. Through small hydropower plants and solar mini-grids, the “1,000 Islands” programme ensures a reliable, climate and environmentally friendly electricity supply.

Agriculture is Mali's most important economic sector, providing work for one in three of the population. The installation of small-scale irrigation systems has brought lasting improvements to food production for many people.

The governing body of the Global Shield against Climate Risks decided on the Global Shield’s operating model today. This is a big step from the initial idea conceived one year ago, to agreeing on the concept and launching it last fall, to making the Global Shield fully operational now. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the African Development Bank Group Annual Meetings in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.

The German government will make two billion euros available for the Green Climate Fund (GCF). German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the commitment at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue in Berlin today. This makes Germany the first major donor to announce its contribution for the upcoming pledging conference for the Green Climate Fund.

Germany and Pakistan want to deepen their Climate Partnership with concrete measures. This was agreed by Development Minister Svenja Schulze and Pakistan’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman in Berlin today, in the margins of the Petersberg Climate Dialogue. Schulze pledged envisaged commitments of around 120 million euros.

The Development Ministry has made 35 million euros available for the Amazon Fund to protect the Amazon rainforest. The commitment was announced by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Parliamentary State Secretary at the Development Ministry (BMZ) Niels Annen.

The Development Ministry (BMZ) will actively support Kenya in implementing its ambitious goals for a just energy transition. That is what the two countries agreed at their government negotiations in Berlin. The priority areas of this cooperation are developing renewable energies, expanding the electricity network, establishing hydrogen production and creating new jobs.

The Global Shield against Climate Risks is a joint initiative of the G7 and the V20 (an association of countries particularly threatened by climate change). It bundles activities in the field of climate risk insurance and prevention.

Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Only together can we identify ambitious solutions and implement them fast enough. The BMZ supports developing countries and emerging economies with a wide range of measures and programmes to achieve their climate commitments and to protect themselves against the impacts of climate change.

Three projects from Madagascar, India and Ethiopia illustrate how digital climate information services, circular economy and landscape approaches can contribute to climate change adaptation.

The increasing number and intensity of droughts, floods, and heavy rainfall show that the climate crisis is equally a water crisis. The BMZ understands water as a central element in advancing climate change adaptation and mitigation goals.

Climate risk management helps address the remaining climate risks by using a range of effective and innovative tools and measures to prevent, minimise and manage loss and damage.

Effective adaptation strategies can enable local smallholder farmers to better cope with these challenges in Ghanas Upper West Region.