[Full-time] Internship in the programme: Capacity Building for the Establishment of Emissions Trading Schemes in at GIZ

Internship in the programme: Capacity Building for the Establishment of Emissions Trading Schemes in China

Location: Beijing, People’s Republic of China (travel within China might be necessary)
Period: 175 days (nearly 6 months), starting March 1st 2016
Application deadline: January 15th 2016

As a German federally owned enterprise, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is a global service provider in the field of international cooperation and professional training for sustainable development. GIZ operates in more than 130 countries with approx. 17,000 staff members worldwide. We offer our partners in developing, emerging and industrialised countries tailor-made and effective solutions in all fields of sustainable economic development as well as environmental and climate protection.
With more than 30 years of experience in Sino-German technical cooperation, GIZ China works within the framework of the Sino-German partnership for the mutual benefit of both countries. Our portfolio includes policy advice, technical expertise, knowledge transfer, capacity building and organisational development support in those areas where German know-how and technologies are world-leading. We provide our services through experienced German, international and Chinese experts as well as German partner institutions.

Project Background:
Over the last three decades, China’s CO2 emissions have greatly increased alongside its skyrocketing economic growth. In 2006, China overtook the United States as the largest single emitter, while even the average per capita emissions have almost reached the average level of European countries. At the same time, China is vulnerable to climate change: melting glaciers, desertification, extreme weather events, and increasing droughts being among the biggest threats. China has recognized these dangers and is undertaking concrete steps to counter global warming and adapt to the effects of climate change. In 2009, it was decided to cut emissions per unit of GDP by 40-45 per cent by the year 2020. In 2011, the Chinese government announced to gradually establish a carbon market in China as one instrument to tackle the rising carbon emissions. Seven pilots for carbon emissions trading have been selected by the central government; five cities Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing and Shenzhen and two provinces Guangdong and Hubei. All seven pilot emissions trading schemes (ETS) started in 2013 and 2014. The establishment of the national ETS is scheduled for 2017.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) the GIZ is implementing the project “Capacity Building for the Establishment of Emissions Trading Schemes in China” to support China in its efforts to establish carbon trading. The project is part of BMUB’s German International Climate Initiative (IKI), an instrument to strengthen cooperation between the German Government and developing and transition countries, and emerging economies, in order to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and preserve biodiversity.
The project’s objective is to strengthen the capacity of Chinese policy makers and key stakeholders for the establishment and operation of emissions trading schemes at local and national level. This includes methodological, technical, and policy advice on ETS design, infrastructure and operation. The project focuses on capacity building and facilitates the exchange of experiences between Germany and China and strengthens the bilateral dialogue. Target groups are the different stakeholders involved in design, implementation and operation of an ETS: policy makers in national and local government institutions, research organisations as well as private players such as carbon exchanges and industry. The project activities include trainings for market players, workshops on technical aspects of ETS, advisory services for policy makers and joint research projects on relevant topics.

Tasks and main responsibilities:

Support the Project Team in Beijing in the following fields:
· Preparation and implementation of trainings and workshops in the pilot regions as well as study tours to Germany and other EU countries
· Maintain and update the internet presence and other PR and information materials for the project
· Prepare documentation and reports on activities and developments for internal and external use
· Targeted research on project relevant topics and editing of information for newsletters and presentations
The above-mentioned responsibilities include, among others, the following tasks:
• Administrative tasks
• Support the preparation, review, and editing of project documentation, articles and policy papers
• Support the organisation of events and trainings
• Support in the electronic archiving of documents
• Preparation of meetings and of minutes of meetings
• Translation assignments, and – if necessary – the production of documents and presentations in German and English (and Chinese)
• Research assignments on international carbon markets and developments in climate policy

The Requirements:

• Currently en-rolled in a Master’s degree or recently graduated (within last six months) in the field of either environmental-, social-, political sciences, or economics.
• Understanding of international climate change policies and instruments, in particular in Germany and China.
• Prior work experience/ internships in the area of climate change, international cooperation and/ or prior work experience/ internships in China are an advantage.
• German as native language, working proficiency in English, proficiency in Mandarin is an asset
• Reliable, independent, results-oriented and able to meet tight deadlines
• Team player, enthusiastic, and with good communication skills
• Open for feedback and prepare to learn on the job

Remuneration:
We pay a monthly stipend and a one-time fixed sum for flight expenditures.

In case you are applying for more than one programme at GIZ China, we kindly ask you to clearly indicate this in your application.

Please contact Ms. Zhao Yuanyuan (yuanyuan.zhao@giz.de) if you have further questions.

Please send your completed application via email to Ms. Zhao Yuanyuan (yuanyuan.zhao@giz.de).