EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: This week, we wanted to hear what you thought about climate change and whether we should be taking tougher action by reducing our coal exports. Here's Brigid Andersen with the results of this week's poll:

BRIGID ANDERSON, REPORTER: According to Tony Abbott, coal is good for humanity. One thing's for certain: it's good for the economy.

Australia's coal exports this financial year are worth an estimated $56.5 billion. But most of you thought the cost of climate change was more important.

There were more than 8,000 votes in this week's poll. 88 per cent of you on Facebook said Australia should reduce coal exports to address climate change. On Twitter, 89 per cent agreed.

Stephen Collins says Australia needs to "cease the coal industry by 2030 and shift to 100 per cent renewable energy."

Others say, "Our future jobs and growth are in clean energy, not fossil fuels."

The dire predictions about the future of the Great Barrier Reef moved many of you, who welcomed Government funding to combat coral bleaching. But Liz Story says it's only a token gesture if we allow more coal mining, "akin to fighting a house fire while pouring petrol on the house."

Like the pledge to stop the boats, Tony Abbott's "axe the carbon tax" campaign was seen as a deciding factor in the last election. But three years on, our poll results show most of you take a different position.

Let's also take a look at the latest Vote Compass results on the environment.

They show a significant majority of you - 63 per cent - support putting a price on carbon emissions. That's up from 50 per cent at the last election. Seventy-four per cent of you think the Federal Government should do more to tackle climate change.

Let's come back to the coal argument. Brian Salter warned that, if Australia reduces coal exports, the gap "will be taken up by other world producers." Barney O'Sullivan says, if we restrict the supply of Australian coal, buyers will purchase lower-quality coal with far greater impact on the environment.

Rees Thomas says Australia's coal is the world's cleanest and exporting it "reduces the need for other countries to use dirty coal."

Well, Rees and Barney are onto something there. A recent ABC Fact Check found Australia's coal is cleaner than coal in many other parts of the world. What that means is that less Australian coal is needed to generate the same amount of energy - and that leads to lower emissions.

While many thousands of you have told us you want action on climate change, whether reducing coal exports alone will make a difference is up for debate.