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The Pacific Islands Climate Action Network says it has presented an award to Australia to highlight what it calls Canberra's hypocrisy over climate change.

Australia's Ambassador for the Environment, Patrick Suckling, who is touring island countries, was given the inaugural "Pacific Fossil Award".

Mr Suckling was touting what he sees as Australia's strong credentials on climate change, but a spokesperson for the network Genevieve Jiva, said it was an attempt to pull the wool over the eyes of people in the Pacific.

She said the group wanted to call out Australia for saying one thing and doing another.

"They are in the Pacific with this message that Australia is very strong on climate change, that they have very ambitious targets."

"But actually they are the highest coal exporter and they are planning to increase coal exports with the Adani Carmichael coal mine. So we wanted to bring attention to that," she said.