The criticism came as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Pacific leaders at COP31 on Thursday and urged other countries and philanthropists to invest in projects to protect vulnerable island nations from the impacts of global warming.
The Pacific Resilience Facility set up to fund climate adaptation projects for the nations reached a $US200 million ($A293 million) funding milestone at the event, helped by its first philanthropic donation.
Australia is leading negotiations at the annual summit but has faced criticism from Swedish activist Greta Thunberg over the pace of its climate action, and environmental groups including Greenpeace over its failure to name fossil fuels as the cause of climate change.
Asked about Ms Thunberg's criticism, Mr Albanese defended Australia's climate policies and cited its target to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030.
"She's entitled to her views," he said.
The prime minister also defended his decision not to mention fossil fuels in his opening address to the leaders' summit segment of COP31, saying he wanted to direct focus to the needs of Pacific nations.
The Pacific Resilience Facility roundtable at the event attracted representatives from nations including France, Spain, Sweden and Qatar, and heard Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr call for more funding rather than more promises.
"Our communities are confronting escalating climate impacts and devastating disasters, putting relentless pressure on the livelihoods of our infrastructure, our economy and our very way of life," he said.
"Let us not leave Antalya with merely another round of renewed promises."
Attention given to the facility at COP31 had the potential to bring more funding to the Pacific, Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said, and could help the fund get closer to its $US500 million target.
"The countries that need climate finance the most have been getting it the least - 0.2 per cent of the world's climate finance goes to small island developing states for adaptation," he said.
"We have said we must use this COP to change that and that is exactly our intention."
Mining billionaire and Minderoo Foundation co-founder Andrew Forrest announced a $US5 million investment in the facility at the event, while also calling for more local companies to invest in technology to end the use of fossil fuels.
"We are, in Australia, absolute proof that technology is with us right now and with the investment required, we can save a fortune in not wasting our taxpayers' and shareholders' money by smoking energy into the atmosphere," Mr Forrest said.
"Even if you have a wooden heart and a soul of steel and no passion for anyone else, but you at least understand economics, that going green, stopping burning fossil fuel is the best dividend possible for your people."
Pacific nations under the threat of rising sea levels needed more countries to commit to phasing out fossil fuels at COP31, Greenpeace Australia Pacific spokesman Shiva Gounden said, in addition to funding projects to adapt to climate change.
"The Pacific needs credible road maps and clear timelines to unlock from fossil fuels," he said.
"Australia can't keep saying implementation and not reflect it with credible action."
