"Idealistic discussions" about climate change should be abandoned and Australians should recognise that coal will remain an important energy source for decades, according to Rio Tinto's head of energy, Harry Kenyon-Slaney.

Society needs to focus on technology to make power stations more efficient and to advance carbon capture and storage, because coal will continue to "do the lion's share of heavy lifting" to meet energy demand, the top mining executive plans to tell a Sydney conference.

Pressure is on the Coalition to weaken renewable energy targets. Credit:Joe Armao

"It is clear we can't just wish away fossil fuels," he will tell the Energy Policy Institute of Australia.

His comments come amid continued campaigning against coal and coal seam gas on the east coast, involving blockades of rail paths and drilling rigs.