Climate change has top priority for GIZ. If the impacts of climate change are to remain manageable, it will be essential to

• reduce or entirely prevent greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation);
• enable people, societies and nations to adapt to the climatic changes taking place (adaptation).

Providing its expertise, GIZ works on climate-related matters on the ground in its partner countries in practically all fields of development cooperation. Prominent examples include the energy sector, agriculture, the water sector and industrial and urban development.GIZ advises and supports the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as other German ministries in the UN climate negotiations. The company further develops strategies to mainstream climate concerns in development cooperation.

In 2008, GIZ (former GTZ) adopted a climate strategy for its own operations. This is due to be implemented by the end of 2011. Ambitious targets set for all divisions mainstream mitigation and adaptation broadly within the company. Alliances with leading institutions will drive innovation and generate additional impetus. Acting on behalf of BMZ, GIZ conducts systematic climate assessments in order to make new projects ‘climate-proof’.