Clinching a global deal in Paris to keep global warming below two degrees is a "deeply personal goal" and climate change inaction is "not an option", Environment Minister Greg Hunt is expected to say on Wednesday.
In a speech to the National Press Club just days out from a critical world climate summit that starts on Monday, Mr Hunt will say the recent human loss in Paris after multiple terrorist attacks will be "ever-present" during negotiations.
"Paris has been witness to both the greatest horror and the greatest heroism," he is expected to say.
"None of us can say with certainty how these tragedies will impact on negotiations. But my own belief is that the sense of duty to Paris, to France and to the world will be even stronger.
"Indeed the three great modern challenges of security, economic opportunity and climate change will be more closely aligned than perhaps ever before."
Mr Hunt will express his "deepest hope and belief" that the world will strike a meaningful agreement on climate change in Paris which "is a deeply personal goal and commitment, as well as a national objective".
The speech marks the latest sign in the government's turnaround on commitment to climate action under the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull, who will also attend the Paris talks along with Mr Hunt and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott once described settled climate change science as "absolute crap" but later said he took it very seriously.
Mr Hunt will say climate change is not a matter of belief but a matter of science and "inaction is simply not an option. We all know this."
"While Australia accounts for less than 1.3 per cent of global emissions, we are committed to playing our part in efforts to reduce emissions," his speech notes say.
"I am confident we will reach a strong agreement in Paris that will set the world on the path towards keeping global temperature increases to below two degrees."
The government has pledged to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 - a goal opponents say is far too modest.
Mr Hunt will say the world is not yet on track for the global goal of keeping temperature rises to less than two degrees – the threshold beyond which the worst climate change impacts would occur.
But the Paris talks should provide a framework for nations to review and increase their ambitions to achieve that outcome, Mr Hunt believes.
Australia will seek an agreement that acknowledges the two-degree goal and involves all countries in making emissions reduction commitments that can increase in ambition over time.
It also wants countries to review their commitments every five years, informed by global stocktakes of progress, and to report on their emissions and progress towards their targets.
Mr Hunt will say that while in Paris, he will join the French government and others to launch a new international partnership on soil carbon, adding "Australia is a world leader in this area".
Under government programs, landholders are paid to boost carbon levels in their soils to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase land productivity.
"We are one of the first to include soil carbon in our national greenhouse accounts and already have nearly eight million tonnes of soil carbon projects contracted under the Emissions Reduction Fund," Mr Hunt's notes say.
"Australia is similarly leading the way on bushfire management and bushfire prevention practices, including Indigenous land management projects under the Emissions Reduction Fund."
The fund is one of the central pillars of the government's direct action climate policy, and pays polluters to cut their emissions. Critics say the fund will not be enough to ensure Australia meets its 2030 greenhouse gas emission cuts.
Almost half the money the Turnbull government has set aside to pay for emissions cuts has now been committed.
Mr Hunt will also point to Australia's work with the United Nations University to assess the potential for emissions reduction through fire management in other countries
Australia is also an international leader in rainforest recovery, which is a "deep, personal passion" and in Paris this nation will help lead the push to expand our Asia-Pacific Rainforest Recovery Programme with a global rainforest initiative, Mr Hunt will say.
