Sino-German Dialogue Forum on Clean Air: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions

Air pollution is one of the most pressing global challenges we face today with severe consequences for our health, economies and the planet. According to the WHO, one in eight deaths worldwide can be attributable to air pollution exposure. These deaths also result in decreased productivity and impose a significant burden on our healthcare system. Air pollution also destroys our ecosystems and aggravates the effects of global warming. In light of this major global challenge, international cooperation and mutual learning and exchange of best practices is key to finding effective solutions to improve air quality.

With over thirty years of cooperation, climate and environmental protection have become core topics of the strategic Sino-German relationship and both countries have a lot to gain by sharing lessons learned. The “Sino-German Dialogue Forum on Clean Air: Challenges, Opportunities and Solutions” provided a platform for more than 200 prominent Chinese and German policymakers, as well as experts from academia, think tanks and the private sector for an in-depth examination of the drivers and impact of air pollution, as well as exploring options in other sectors to improve air quality, such as forestry, energy and financing in both Germany and China.

adelphi was commissioned by KfW Development Bank with the design, organisation, and implementation of the dialogue forum that took place on 20 September 2016 in Beijing, China and was co-hosted by the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Chinese Ministry of Finance (MoF).