As of: March 2009

International Climate Initiative

The International Climate Initiative has been financing climate protection projects in developing and newly industrialising countries and in transition countries in Central and Eastern Europe since 2008. One major focal point of this funding is the G5 states - Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa. Through this, the BMU is making an effective contribution to emission reductions and adaptation to climate change. This new form of environmental cooperation complements the Government’s existing development cooperation.

Funding of 120 million euro per year is available for the International Climate Initiative from the revenues of the sale of emission allowances. A decision by the German Bundestag forms the basis of this worldwide investment in climate protection.

When selecting projects, the BMU attaches great importance to the development of innovative and multipliable approaches that impact beyond the individual project itself and are transferable. Through targeted cooperation with partner countries the Climate Initiative provides important momentum for negotiations on an international climate agreement for the post-2012 period. The Climate Initiative also makes a valuable contribution to international discussions on structuring a climate financing architecture.

The focus of the International Climate Initiative lies in the areas of

• promoting a climate-friendly economy
• promoting measures for adaptation to the impacts of climate change and
• conserving biodiversity with climate relevance.

In the field of a climate-friendly economy, the goal is to support partner countries in establishing a climate-friendly economic structure that prevents climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions where possible. This support covers areas such as increasing energy efficiency, expanding renewable energies, reducing environmentally harmful greenhouse gases and investment-related measures, know-how transfer and policy advice in the partner country.

In the field of adaptation to climate change, parts of appropriate national programmes for such adaptation are being implemented in selected partner countries that are especially vulnerable to climate change (on the basis of national or regional strategies, NAPAs). Through an integrated approach several aspects of adaptation can be incorporated, e.g. water resource management, optimal land use / sustainable biomass production (resource management, restoration of damaged areas), preventive health care, disaster prevention and migration management. In the field of climate-relevant biodiversity conservation, projects for conserving carbon sinks, especially of forests and other ecosystems such as wetlands, are financed. Activities in this field aim to improve synergies between climate protection and biodiversity conservation.

The funds from the International Climate Initiative will primarily flow into bilateral projects, but projects by multilateral organisations will also be supported. An overview of projects supported in the framework of the International Climate Initiative and more detailed information on these projects is available here.