'Climate change is real': energy minister

The energy minister has called out Tony Abbott's hypocrisy in criticising action on climate change that he backed as prime minister.

In a speech in London this week, Mr Abbott likened those who wanted to tackle climate change to religious zealots - saying, "Primitive people once killed goats to appease the volcano gods" - and said climate change may be doing more good than harm.

Minister Josh Frydenberg's response was blunt: "Climate change is real."

He is developing Australia's next climate and energy policy and said the Turnbull government took its advice from scientific experts and believed there was a need to reduce emissions.

"I point out that, at the time, Tony Abbott said that the agreement Australia struck at Paris was a definite commitment and that it was economically responsible and environmentally responsible," Mr Frydenberg told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.

"Now the Turnbull government is continuing the work of coalition governments to reduce carbon emissions but to do so in a way that doesn't compromise the affordability and the reliability of our system."