At the International Symposium on COP21, Susanne Langsdorf spoke about the role non-state actors can play in international climate negotiations, with a focus on cities. While by definition non-state actors cannot be subject of international law; the Lima-Paris Action Agenda, the "Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action" and activities such as the "non-state actor zone for climate action" provide new options for non-state actors to play a role in the climate negotiations. The presentation "Cities and Climate Change in the context of COP21" is available for download.

The main topics at the International Symposium (1until 2 November 2015) included the general trend of climate negotiations and the future of international carbon markets. A special focus was placed on the role of the Chinese carbon market, how it could be linked to a global carbon market and how China can get prepared for the launch of its national emissions trading scheme.

The symposium was held by the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) and the Shanghai University of Political Science and Law; supported by The All-China Environment Federation (ACEF), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammerarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Just before the 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) (30th November  to 11th December 2015) in Paris, climate and energy topics have been at the top of the agenda of environmental ministries, agencies and NGOs worldwide. Being the world's biggest emitter of CO2, China plays a major role in international climate negotiations. But also beyond international politics climate and energy policies are high on the agenda of the Chinese government: providing energy security to over 1,3 billion citizens and fighting the dramatic air pollution in Chinese cities are formidable tasks.

Susanne Langsdorf, Fellow at Ecologic Institute, discussed the climate negotiations of the COP21 and the German energy transition at two events with Chinese and international experts in Shanghai and Beijing.