Australia urged not to undermine coal plan

Australia has been urged not to undermine a US and Japanese plan to scale back the ability of rich countries to fund coal projects in developing nations.

Climate Institute chief executive John Connor says Australia has an opportunity to help clear the path to cleaner energy technologies.

"Why should we support lumping developing nations with anything but global best practice when it comes to energy options?" Mr Connor said in a statement.

The US and Japanese proposal will be debated at an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) meeting next week in Paris, ahead of climate talks in December.