The World Bank leader has called for a five-point plan to deliver low-carbon growth, including removal of incentives to utilise oil, gas and coal for power generation.

“Tony Abbott's dismissal of a price on pollution as some kind of extreme ideological tax that harms the economy has been exposed,” Milne said.

“Australia stands alone and humiliated on global warming policy.

“Anyone with any shred of economic credibly accepts the urgent need to shift away from pollution and towards renewable energy, but the Abbott government has dug in to defend the coal industry and the big polluters.”

Milne said statements by the World Bank chief and other world leaders to Abbott's vision that “coal is good for humanity” leave Australians with “very little to laugh about”

“I am again calling on the Prime Minister to abandon his attack on the Renewable Energy Target and to end fuel tax credits for the big miners in this year’s budget,” she said.