2025-11-21 Ecns.cn Editor：Meng Xiangjun
(ECNS) — The 30th United Nations climate change conference, or COP30, is set to end on Friday. In an exclusive interview with China News Network, Dr. Igor Skryabin, honorary associate professor from Institute for Climate Energy and Disaster Solutions at Australian National University, and Dr. Kaveh Khalilpour, associate professor from Faculty of Engineering and IT at University of Technology Sydney, provided an in-depth analysis of China’s contributions to global decarbonization and the prospects for Australia-China cooperation against the backdrop of global climate change.
China’s contribution to global decarbonization widely recognized
Skryabin noted that China’s contribution to global decarbonization is widely recognized. The dramatic decline in the cost of solar photovoltaics over the past decade, driven largely by China’s technological innovation, manufacturing capacity and economies of scale, made solar the cheapest source of electricity in history.
Skryabin said that Australian researchers made important early contributions to solar technology and trained many high-caliber specialists, but it was China that made solar panels inexpensive and globally accessible, enabling large-scale solar electrification around the world.
According to China’s State Council Information Office, over the past decade China has helped reduce the average cost of electricity for global wind power projects by 60 percent and solar photovoltaic projects by 80 percent over the past decade.
As the world enters the next phase of energy transition, electric vehicles are becoming increasingly affordable, again propelled by China’s scale, technology adoption and innovation, Skryabin said, adding that China has already supported the green transition in developing countries.
Extensive potential for Australia-China cooperation in clean energy
Speaking about Australia-China cooperation, Skryabin stressed that although the two countries have different governance systems, they share the common goal of global decarbonization.
The global energy transition requires professionals who can integrate technology, economics, and policy. Chinese students seek knowledge beyond engineering, while Australian students can benefit from exposure to China’s large-scale manufacturing and industrial deployment. Considering this, Skryabinsuggested that universities in both countries develop joint short-term programs covering energy transition, policy analysis, and clean technology, as well as study tours to laboratories and factories.
Khalilpour also noted that the Australian EV market is now increasingly shaped by Chinese brands, and that shift opens the door to a circular approach where batteries can be repurposed or recycled onshore. Building such a system would create new business prospects and give both countries a chance to work together on shared sustainability goals.
Khalilpour said that the green metals supply chain, closely linked with the emerging hydrogen economy, offers even greater scope for collaboration, with Australia’s resource base and China’s industrial capacity creating a natural partnership for future growth.
Commitments must be backed by action: Climate cooperation depends on political trust
The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the Paris Agreement. Skryabin observed that the world has seen impressive technological progress but relatively little political follow-through, with some countries’ climate commitments still misaligned with their actual policies.
Khalilpour expect that as the host country, Brazil has the opportunity to enhance COP30’s credibility: real accountability, stronger implementation, and meaningful action on forests and land use.
Skryabin also acknowledged that rising geopolitical tensions have become a major obstacle to coordinated global climate action. Genuine climate cooperation, they noted, requires a high level of political goodwill, and it is unrealistic to expect geopolitical rivals to serve as reliable partners in global decarbonization effort.
Although technology advances have been made, the emphasized that effective international cooperation must be built on political trust. Enhancing mutual political confidence is essential to achieving more effective global climate governance, Skryabin concluded.
(By Gong Weiwei)
Copyright©1999-2025 Chinanews.com All rights reserved.