Australia’s climate minister Chriss Bowen to visit India and China this week

Australia’s Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chriss Bowen, will visit India and China this week for a series of high-level meetings, according to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water of Australia. The visit aims to strengthen renewable energy cooperation, discuss climate policies, accelerate decarbonization, and explore joint projects, while also reflecting Australia’s broader strategic engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

In New Delhi, Bowen will meet with Indian officials, including Pralhad Joshi, Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food, and Public Distribution, to convene the first Renewable Energy Partnership Ministers Meeting. He will also meet Manohar Lal, Minister of Power and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, for the 5th India-Australia Energy Dialogue, aimed at deepening collaboration in energy security, clean energy, and urban infrastructure.

Key topics are expected to include net-zero emissions pathways, carbon pricing and taxation, energy storage, hydrogen, and smart grid technologies, which are critical to achieving climate and renewable energy targets. While Australia is recognized for advanced technology in solar, energy storage, and grid integration, India brings scale, ambition, and a rapidly growing renewable energy market. The visit provides an opportunity for both nations to share expertise, collaborate on projects, and accelerate clean energy adoption.

The visit follows Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s trip to Australia, where he co-chaired the maiden India-Australia Defence Industry Business Round Table in Sydney and met top Australian officials, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, and Assistant Minister of Defence Peter Khalil. During the visit, India and Australia signed key defence agreements, which Marles described as a “hugely significant step” in operational collaboration between the two nations’ armed forces.

Bowen’s dual visit to India and China also reflects a strategic balancing act. By engaging with both major Asian powers, Australia aims to advance energy and climate cooperation, support India’s renewable ambitions, and maintain constructive diplomatic relations in the region.