Frydenberg affirms renewable commitment

Josh Frydenberg may have once been dubbed "Mr Coal" but the new federal environment minister has a message for doubters: he's highly supportive of renewable energy.

Mr Frydenberg insists he accepts the science of climate change and recognises Australia needs to do its part to tackle carbon emissions.

His goal is to create an affordable, accessible and reliable energy supply.

"But we also want a transition to a lower emissions future," he told ABC radio on Thursday.

"It's my job to try to smooth that transition."

However, the minister believes households are sensitive to higher electricity prices, and slammed Labor's renewable energy target because it did not come with modelling.

Coal was in transition but had an important part to play in Australia's energy mix.