A Chinese renewable energy expert has warned Australia against investing in new coal mines because her country, one of Australia's biggest coal customers, is moving rapidly away from coal-based energy production.

Australian thermal coal prices have dropped this year as China officials officials slowed customs clearance.

Dr Peggy Liu, Shanghai-based chair of the Joint US China Collaboration on Clean Energy at the 2019 Asia Pacific Cities Summit questions why Australia is opening new coal mines as demand for coal in China declines. Credit:Tony Moore

When asked if Australia should be nervous about China’s shift away from coal, Joint US China Collaboration on Clean Energy chair Peggy Liu gave the example of BETA tape, fax machines and compact disc drives.

“My children who are now 14 and 16 asked me when they were about eight years old, ‘Mum, what is a fax machine?',” she said.