Prime Minister Tony Abbott has given his clearest signal that climate change will not be front and centre on the G20 agenda when Australia hosts the forum later this year.



Mr Abbott, who leaves on Wednesday for a 12-day trip to meet world leaders in Indonesia, France, Canada and the US, could be challenged by President Barack Obama about the exclusion of climate change after the US announced major steps this week to slash carbon emissions.

Speaking to reporters in Canberra, the Prime Minister played down the significance of climate change as part of the G20 program and said the November summit was primarily an ''economic meeting'' to discuss finance and trade.

President Obama's plan to cut emissions from power plants by 30 per cent on 2005 levels is seen as a firm commitment by the US in the lead-up to international climate talks in Paris next year.