Paris UN climate conference 2015: Australia named 'fossil of the day'

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Activists in Paris have awarded Australia the "fossil of the day" award – a dubious honour given to a country that has done the most in the past 24 hours to stop a meaningful response to climate change.

Australia has traditionally been a frequent winner of the anti-gong, which has been given out each day at end-of-year United Nations climate summits since 1999.

It took until the 10th day for it to claim it in Paris, for a speech by Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop in which she said the world was in a transition phase, but that traditional energy sources such as coal would "remain a significant part of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future".

"Barring some technological breakthrough, fossil fuels will remain critical to promoting prosperity, growing economies and alleviating hunger for years to come," she told a forum hosted by Indonesia.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop says Australia was invited to join the climate coalition.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Australia has received a mixed reception at the talks, winning praise for being far more committed to trying to land a deal than was expected under former prime minister Tony Abbott, but criticism for not lifting its commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions or contribute to climate change related aid.

Ms Bishop surprised some on Wednesday by signing up to a New Zealand-led declaration supporting the use of international carbon markets. The Coalition government abolished Labor's carbon price scheme, which was to evolve into carbon trading, and Mr Abbott was sharply critical of international credit trading systems.

The award, handed out in a mock ceremony by green groups, was accepted on Australia's behalf by Greens leader Richard di Natale.