Washington | Australia should be leading the charge on climate change action but in the absence of a policy framework, business will step up at the United Nations this week, says tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes.

"We're showing up in New York because we have a responsibility to act," Mr Cannon-Brookes said in a statement ahead of his arrival in New York to attend the UN climate action summit. "The world is here to address a burning issue. We know that we have to do our bit to reduce our impact on the planet. If we don’t, we’re cooked."