Pacific will get climate cash: Bishop

Australia will go into bat for cyclone-prone Pacific Island nations to ensure they get sufficient cash to cope with climate change, says Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

Ms Bishop hosted a "night at the museum"-themed reception on Thursday evening to kick off a Pacific Island Forum foreign ministers meeting in Sydney.

She said Australia has committed $200 million to the Green Climate Fund and had made its first payment of $70 million this week.

Australia has a seat on the board of the fund and would use that position to ensure the Pacific gets its "fair share" of assistance, Ms Bishop told the ministers.