Asian drivers

Project description

The work of Department “Environmental Policy and Management of Natural Resources,” in this project was focused on climate and environmental aspects in research and policy advice.

In view of their economic weight, their political influence, and their growing determination to lend a hand in shaping international processes, China and India have become indispensible partners for climate policy and global environmental policy. The possibilities they have to participate actively in shaping the emerging system of global environmental governance will depend in large measure on whether they perceive environmental and climate policy as a barrier to or as a condition required for economic development. Other, additional factors involved include the administrative, scientific, and social capacities available in these countries in the climate and environment sector and the quality of their inter-ministerial and cross-sectoral policy coordination.

In view of the enormous significance these countries have for global development, cooperation with China and India on environmental and climate policy must be seen as in German’s vital interest. This, though, does not imply that cooperation with these countries necessarily needs to be patterned permanently on development cooperation. Instead, development cooperation with anchor countries needs to evolve into strategic partnership, with the various instruments used – for development cooperation as well as in other policy fields – being placed in a common policy corridor and closely coordinated with one another.