Australia's backing of the fossil fuel industry is expected to come under more scrutiny at the Bonn climate talks in Germany, as a global effort to reduce coal use gathers momentum.

Britain and Canada were expected to launch the Global Alliance to Power Past Coal at a Thursday media conference aimed at phasing out consumption of the high-emissions fuel.

The alliance was expected to announce nine more nations would sign up to the group, including Italy, France, Mexico and Finland, an at least one African nation, Reuters reported.

The Marshall Islands, one of the alliance members, stepped up its criticism of Australia's policies, with its President, Hilda Heine, saying every nation should seek to end burning coal to prevent dangerous climate change.