Energy security in Germany and China

In this working paper, created by a joint German and Chinese expert team as part of the Sino-German Track II Dialogue on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, the two countries’ different responses to the 2021-2023 energy security crises and their respective advantages and lessons are evaluated with respect to their impact on climate goals.

The authors analyze the measures taken both on the supply-side and on the demand-side and reflect on the strategic elements of the reaction and how these reactions fit into China’s and Germany’s medium and long-term climate strategies. By comparing the crisis response in China and Germany, the authors derive common lessons learnt that take into account the specific circumstances in each country and differing situations and responses in 2021-2023.

These common lessons include the need to find the synergies between short-term measures and long-term strategies: by expanding renewables, improving energy efficiency and reducing fossil fuels, energy security is enhanced, and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. The authors also explore the differences between Germany’s and China’s response to the energy crisis, such as the emphasis on supporting vulnerable groups by the German government and the vigorous, record-breaking deployment of renewables in China.

Both countries’ experiences offer valuable lessons that can inform the ongoing energy transformation and efforts tackling the climate crisis in other countries around the globe. Collaboration and exchange on the global challenges of tackling climate change and energy security, such as in the Sino-German Track II Dialogue, play a crucial role in highlighting successful policy examples that seek harmonies between achieving energy security and fighting the global climate crisis, rather than prioritizing one at the expense of the other.