UN expected to push world leaders for climate change action

US President Barack Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon will call for action on climate change at a special summit in New York this week - but Tony Abbott will be among the world leaders not attending.

The summit will attract national leaders from across the world, but Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will represent Australia despite Mr Abbott being present in New York for a special meeting of the UN Security Council.

The summit is regarded as a crucial stepping stone for another conference in Paris next year, where organisers hope a new global deal for combating global warming will be finalised.

Mr Abbott has been criticised for not attending, though the leaders of major polluters China and India will likewise not appear at the summit.

More than 400,000 people recently marched through the streets of New York to demand action ahead of the United Nations climate summit.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is expected to call for bold pledges from global leaders at the summit, set to take place in New York this week.

Celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio marched alongside politicians and public figures including former US vice-president and vocal climate change activist, Al Gore.

The column of marchers stretched over six kilometres at some points during the day.

Other marches took place around the world today, including Sydney and Melbourne, where it was reported about 30,000 people turned out for it.

Additional reporting by AAP.