A research consortium from three leading Australian universities has been awarded $580,000 by the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations to enhance green finance cooperation between Australia and China.

The project, “Towards Interoperability of Australia-China Sustainable Finance Taxonomies,” will be led by Dr. Rui Zhong from the UWA Business School. It aims to align sustainable finance frameworks between the two countries to support their respective decarbonization goals.

“Our research addresses the challenges created by differing sustainable finance taxonomies used in Australia and China,” explained Dr. Zhong. “Creating consistent global standards and interoperable frameworks is essential for facilitating cross-border green investments and regulatory coordination.”

The multidisciplinary team includes researchers from The University of Western Australia, The University of Queensland, and The Australian National University, working in partnership with the Australian Sustainable Finance Institute and two Chinese organizations: the International Institute of Green Finance and the Institute of Finance and Sustainability.

Through research initiatives, roundtable discussions, and public workshops, the team will engage with industry leaders and climate finance experts from both countries to develop practical alignment strategies.

“UWA is proud to lead this important project that aims to strengthen Australia’s position in sustainable mining, manufacturing, and energy while attracting Chinese investment in Australian green initiatives,” said Dr. Zhong. “Sustainable finance is a global challenge, and this collaboration represents a significant step toward building stronger economic relationships between Australia and China.”