Events in 2025

An overview of the events in 2025 at which the International Climate Initiative (IKI) was represented.

In 2025, the International Climate Initiative (IKI) used a variety of formats for exchange with its stakeholders. It organised networking events at major conferences such as the UN Climate Change Conference and was represented by an information stand at others, such as the World Conservation Congress. It also held virtual events, such as the IKI Brown Bag Lunch series, in which project teams presented and discussed their results with a well-informed specialist audience. Below is an overview of the IKI event highlights in 2025.

30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30)

In November 2025, the IKI attended the UN Climate Change Conference in Belém, Brazil. Representatives of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) and the Federal Foreign Office (AA) met with key IKI stakeholders. Furthermore, the IKI staged two high-level events during COP30. With the winning photos from the IKI photo competition, the IKI also shaped the German Climate Pavilion, the German Federal Government’s central event location on the event premises.

In the foreground, dark silhouettes of six people can be seen. In the background, the words "Welcome to #COP30" in English and "Bem-vindo(a) #COP30" in Portuguese can be seen. — Welcome to the 30th World Climate Conference in Belém.

Entrance area of COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Illuminated wooden façade with UN logos and silhouettes of people in front of a "Welcome to #COP30" banner. — Entrance area of COP30 in Belém.

Moss wall with the words "#GermanClimatePavilion" next to an IKI roll-up banner for the 2025 photo competition — The winners of the IKI photo contest are on display at entrance …

Roll-up banner for the IKI's 2025 photo competition next to two designer chairs and colourful seating cubes. — ... and also the seating area at the German Climate Pavilion at COP30.

A woman wearing glasses and a leopard print skirt speaking with a microphone in front of a projection screen. — Dr. Vera Rodenhoff, Deputy Director-General at the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, presenting the Just Transition Compass at COP30

IKI High Level Event with German Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider

At the High Level Event in the German Climate Pavilion, German Federal Minister for the Environment Carsten Schneider officially launched the first IKI Large Grants ideas competition and at the same time opened the next rounds of the IKI Medium Grants and IKI Small Grants.

Five people at a panel discussion — Panel discussion at the IKI High Level Event at COP30, featuring Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (far right).

He then took part in a high-level panel discussion, debating how ambitious climate action and biodiversity conservation targets can be translated into specific measures. Participants in the discussion were Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Mexican Minister for the Environment, Kamran Khan, Head of Sustainable Finance for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa from Deutsche Bank, and Tariye Gbadegesin, Chief Executive Officer of the Climate Investment Funds.

Read more about the IKI High Level Event at COP30

IKI Networking Event at COP30

In a relaxed atmosphere, more than 100 participants met for a COP side event to exchange ideas, learn from one another and establish new cooperation arrangements. The group comprised representatives from IKI implementing organisations and their partner organisations, as well as from the German ministries supporting the funding programme.

Two people stand at a podium. A man holds a microphone and is speaking, while the person beside him listens attentively. Both look toward the audience. Behind them a banner of the International Climate Protection Initiative is displayed. Full water glasses sit on the tables in front of the speakers. — Philipp Behrens (BMUKN) and Anne Vanselow (AA) welcome everyone present to the IKI networking evening on the sidelines of COP30.

A speaker stands on stage speaking into a microphone. Behind her are banners of the International Climate Initiative. In front of her the audience sits at wooden tables with glasses on them. Green plants are visible at the edge of the image. — Barbara Buchner gives her presentation on the topic of "Innovative Climate Finance".

Barbara Buchner, Global Managing Director of the Climate Policy Initiative, held a presentation on “Innovative Climate Finance”, which provided exciting new perspectives and stimulated further discussion. Another highlight was the presentation of the ten best submissions in the 2025 IKI photo contest. At the same time, the impressive photos also served as creative orientation points for the subsequent networking part – from biodiversity and climate finance to sustainable land use.

Impressions from the IKI Networking Events at COP30

Photo of the IKI photo‑competition exhibition. Black easels display large‑format prints of the winning photographs. The setup is staged like a gallery. — Exhibition of the winning entries in the IKI Photo Competition 2025.

Group photo of all participants at the IKI network evening in Belém.

Photo of the audience: In the foreground a participant is seated, holding a microphone and gesturing. The gazes of the other seated attendees are directed toward him. Glasses are on the wooden tables. The setting is dark but illuminated, with green plants surrounding the area. — At the IKI networking evening, participants had the opportunity to ask questions about the IKI.

Three people are standing at a podium with two tables, speaking with each other. One woman holds a microphone and speaks, while the others listen. In the background, two banners of the "International Climate Initiative" can be seen. — Philipp Behrens, Barbara Buchner and Anne Vanselow (from left) answer questions from the audience.

A staff member at an accreditation table talks with two arriving attendees, one of whom is filling out a form. Pens, documents, and white umbrellas rest on the table, with plants and a black fence in the background. — The Interface Project Brazil welcomed the participants at the beginning of the evening.

Three people smile at the camera with their arms linked around each other. The picture was taken with flash in a dark setting, with green plants visible in the background. — Relaxed atmosphere at the IKI networking evening.

Three people stand at a wooden table with food laid out. A woman gestures animatedly, while the other two listen attentively. Lush plants surround the table. — After the official part, the discussions continued lively.

Four participants sit at a wooden table, smiling at the camera, with empty plates and glasses on the table. Tropical plants are visible in the background. — At the end of the evening, there were many happy faces.

Read more about the IKI Networking Event at COP30

To the winners of the 2025 IKI photo contest

Furthermore, many other IKI projects were represented at COP30 – either as organisers of a side event or as panel participants. The COP30 topic page features an event archive, where the individual events are also available for reference. This page also recapitulates the IKI activities related to COP30 and provides an overview of interesting news and videos.

To the COP30 topic page

Bonn Climate Change Conference

On the way to COP30, the IKI extended an invitation to its traditional networking event on the Rhine on the occasion of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB) meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, also known as the Bonn Climate Change Conference. The event prepared for Belém and focused on the implementation of the IKI strategy up to 2030.

A woman in front of a stage — Constanze Haug, Managing Director of Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH, opens the event.

Three people on stage — Philipp Behrens (BMWE), Anne-Mareike Vanselow (AA) and Nicolas Schäfstoß (BMUKN) (from left).

A woman at the speaker's podium — Sirini Jeudy-Hugo delivers the keynote speech.

Many people standing at bar tables and sitting in a large room — The participants asked numerous questions and provided input for ...

Four people sit on a stage for a round of talks — ... Nicolas Schäfstoß (BMUKN), Anne Vanselow (AA), Sirini Jeudi-Hugo (OECD) and Philipp Behrens (BMWE).

Three people stand at a table and talk — The second part of the event was all about networking ...

The terrace was a popular place for conversations.

A group of international young people — The youth delegation - whose participation in the June Climate Meetings, among others, is financed by the IKI - with Niclas Schäfstoß and Philipp Behrens.

Group picture — Group photo of all participants.

As the keynote speaker, Sirini Jeudy-Hugo from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) presented a report titled “Investing in Climate for Growth and Development”, which was co-financed by the IKI. She showed that ambitious NDCs not only strengthen climate action, but also boost economic growth. Around 140 participants from the IKI community took the opportunity to network and share experiences at the evening event.

Read more about the IKI event on the occasion of the Bonn Climate Change Conference

Further events with IKI participation

LCOY

At the Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) 2025 in Lüneburg, two IKI projects presented concepts for youth participation in climate policy and fun approaches to environmental education.

Read more about the IKI event at the LCOY

Participants of the IKI event at LCOY 2025.

World Conservation Congress

At this year’s World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi, the IKI was represented with its own stand – together with numerous IKI projects and implementing organisations.

To the overview of the IKI’s presence at the World Conservation Congress

IKI booth with two persons at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. — The IKI booth at the 2025 World Conservation Congress.

Transport and Climate Change Week

The Transport and Climate Change Week 2025 in Berlin sent out a clear signal for the coming decade. The IKI organised the “IKI Implementers’ Meeting on Sustainable Mobility” on site to share best practices.

Symposium of the IKI independent complaint mechanism

The independent complaint mechanism of the IKI hosted a symposium in Berlin under the motto “Cooperation of Accountability and Safeguard Systems in Climate and Development Finance – Challenges and Opportunities in a Changing Landscape”.

To the report about the expert session

Two speakers on stage in front of a seated audience. — Andrea Kämpf, Head of the ICM Office, welcomes those attending the symposium.

NAP Expo

Adaptation experts came together at the NAP Expo (National Adaptation Plan) in Zambia under the motto “Innovations in the NAP Process”. The IKI attended the event and made use of the conference to establish and further expand networks.

Find out more about the NAP Expo

Panel discussion at NAP Expo 2025 in Lusaka, Zambia, with six speakers on stage and a large screen behind them displaying the event theme. — Opening of the NAP Expo in Lusaka, Zambia.

German Government Open Day

The IKI was also represented at the German Government Open Day and took the opportunity to engage in dialogue with citizens.

UN Ocean Conference

At the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, the IKI presented projects with diverse commitments – for the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems, for regional cooperation and for equitable, inclusive marine conservation worldwide.

Find out more about the 3rd UN Ocean Conference

A roundtable discussion with about a dozen participants in a room decorated with international flags hanging from the ceiling. Six people are seated in a circle in front of a screen titled “Protecting the High Seas,” as the audience listens attentively. — Ilka Wagner, Head of Division for Marine Biodiversity, Marine Protected Areas, and Marine Climate Protection at the BMUKN (third from the right on the panel), at an event organised by an IKI project.

IKI Interface Workshop

Every two years, the IKI organises its interface workshop in Berlin in order to strengthen exchange and cooperation with the IKI priority countries in climate action and biodiversity conservation.

To the report on the IKI Interface Workshop

A woman stands at a lectern speaking to an audience of about 20 people in a modern, bright conference room with large glass windows. On the left, there is a flipchart with notes; on the right, a roll-up banner of the "International Climate Initiative (IKI)." The attendees sit at round tables with water bottles, glasses, and notepads. Green vegetation can be seen outside the windows in the background. — Anne Vanselow (AA) welcomes the IKI interfaces in Berlin.

Global NDC Conference

In June 2025, experts and key policymakers met in Berlin for the IKI-funded Global NDC Conference in order to intensify the global dialogue on NDCs.

To the full conference report

The IKI supported the organisation of the Global NDC Conference in Berlin.

IKI Networking Event on Climate and Biodiversity Finance

The first networking get-together for IKI financing projects in Berlin provided innovative approaches to cooperation, new ideas and joint action.

Read more about the IKI Networking Event

View of a panel discussion in a modern, open conference space with high ceilings and green wall panels. Five speakers sit on stage as the audience listens from colorful chairs. Two large screens display the title “Shaping the future of Climate, Biodiversity and Forest Finance.” — The network meeting took place at the IKI project management agency Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH.

Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue

From participation in the panel discussion to an information stand, the IKI was represented in various formats at the eleventh occurrence of the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue.

Find out more about the Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue

Two people in a conversation — The IKI had an information stand at the BETD.

IKI Brown Bag Lunch event programme

The IKI also touched on some key topics itself once again this year with the IKI Brown Bag Lunch (BBL) event programme.

The virtual format enables implementing organisations to provide an informative look behind the scenes at their own projects and then discuss these projects with other stakeholders.

The format’s target group includes IKI ministries and other partners from the IKI network. The IKI implemented six well-attended BBL events during 2025.

Click on the individual event link to access detailed information about the individual topics addressed at these IKI Brown Bag Lunches in 2025. The selection of topics ranged from climate-resilient cities to the status of NDCs 3.0.

Open wetland scene with tall palm trees, low shrubs, and a rider on horseback moving away in the distance beneath a partly cloudy blue sky.

10/29/2025

Implementing environmental and social safeguards in post-peace agreement landscapes and projects in Colombia

A group of people is planting trees and plants in a garden. Some are wearing orange safety vests, while others are working with shovels.

09/25/2025

Evaluation of the IKI Medium Grants – Key findings, voices from stakeholders and discussions of lessons learnt

08/21/2025

Current State of NDCs 3.0

Tracking Global Climate Finance Flows – Insights from the Global Landscape of Climate Finance 2024

04/02/2025

Linking Carbon Markets and Climate Finance

Illustration of an environmentally friendly city. Four enlarged circles show sustainable solutions: a roof with plants, a system for rainwater drainage through vegetation, a group of people tending a garden together and a hospital.

02/26/2025

Moving towards climate-resilient cities

IKI online seminars

Furthermore, the IKI staged three online seminars in 2025, accompanying its calls. In these seminars, participants were given the opportunity to obtain detailed information on the individual procedures. Anyone who missed the events can find the recordings on the IKI website.

Further information on the IKI funding instruments

The IKI’s independent complaint mechanism (IKI ICM) regularly held a total of six online seminars to provide detailed information.

Further information on the IKI ICM online seminar

In order to improve the data quality of its projects, the IKI staged a session on its “Standard Indicator 1 – Mitigation”, allowing participants to ask questions on collection and reporting. The IKI also continued its successful event programme with the Gender Community of Practice. This is intended to encourage the exchange of knowledge and experience in the implementation of the IKI Gender Strategy and for the promotion of gender equality in IKI projects.