NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has accused some of his federal counterparts of wilful ignorance over climate change, saying he understood why striking students were frustrated.

Mr Stokes said he did not agree with Friday's strike by school students over climate but understood their sentiment, given they arrive home from lessons about the greenhouse gas effect only to turn on the TV and see politicians dismiss it as an "elitist falsehood".

NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes says some federal MPs show "wilful ignorance" on climate. Credit: Simone De Peak

The comments came as the NSW Coalition government distances itself from its federal counterparts after a weekend poll showed the Berejiklian government trailing Labor just months from the March election.

"A passionate generation of young scholars consistently hear a wilful ignorance of scientific evidence and expert advice from many elected officials," Mr Stokes said.