Mr Robb hosted the meeting for Australian business leaders on Tuesday - which Fairfax Media also attended - and said the Abbott government had to ensure anything agreed through the United Nations climate talks would not put Australia at a disadvantage to its immediate trade rivals.

The attendance of Mr Robb in Peru - who has been labelled a climate sceptic - has raised eyebrows after it was reported he was sent by Prime Minister Tony Abbott's office to watch over Foreign Minister Julie Bishop at the talks.

Tuesday was the first full day at the Lima negotiations for Australia's two ministerial representatives, with Ms Bishop announcing a $200 million contribution to the Green Climate Fund - to be taken from foreign aid.

Ms Bishop has previously said foreign aid should not be used on climate change initiatives. Prime Minister Tony Abbott has previously said Australia would not contribute to the fund, as it was "socialism masquerading as environmentalism".

Mr Robb told the meeting with business officials  - which included representatives of BHP Billiton and the Business Council of Australia  - Australia would make a particular effort to ensure trade competitors "are as ambitious as we will be."

"If we are not convinced they (trade competitors) are doing what they should, it will influence whether we sign up or not. Outcomes must be comparable…we are not going to get it in the neck and increase our costs for nothing," he said.

Mr Robb also said the government wanted to ensure developing countries understood that there would be no further money from Australia in the climate negotiations.

The government also wanted to ensure there were proper arrangements for developing countries to access the Green Fund, which was established to help poorer nations address climate change.

"We want a demonstration that they will use it to leverage private sector investment and identify real projects," he said.

"They can't just pocket the $10 billion (currently committed to the fund) and say 'now what is the next thing'."

Asked about his attendance in Peru, Mr Robb said: "I joined Julie because I wanted to soak up what is being discussed and how it impacts on all my trade negotiations and investment responsibilities. Economic risks coming out of negotiation are the things to focus on."

There is a belief in the Australian delegation that the contribution will give it more leverage in the negotiations, after being ostracised by other countries in the first week of the talks over its hardline climate change stance.

Despite the contribution, the two Australian ministers continued to take a tough position on other elements of the talks. During the day Mr Robb and Ms Bishop firmed up Australia's position in bilateral talks with other countries including China, the United States, Canada  and Japan.

Alongside the Green Fund contribution, Ms Bishop also announced a taskforce in the Prime Minister's department to review other countries' pledges to cut emissions post-2020 in the lead-up to next year's climate negotiations in Paris, where a new global deal is due to be finalised.

It is understood that the new taskforce will particularly examine new commitments by China, the United States, Japan, Canada and Gulf countries in determining what new emissions pledge Australia should make in the first half of next year ahead of the Paris talks.

As a result, Australian negotiators have been focusing their efforts in the last week on ensuring that there is an agreement in Lima for countries to provide detailed information about their new emissions commitments before Paris next year to allow them to undertake the detailed review.

"Currently, there are different baselines, different timeframes and whilst we can analyse the comparisons, it would be far easier if there was a uniform approach," Ms Bishop told Fairfax Media.

"We are looking for a focus on transparency, accountability and pragmatism."

She also flagged the Government wanted to narrow the focus of the Lima agreement and next year's Paris deal. She backed concerns of some developed nations that the talks are becoming to unwieldy and could see some countries walking away from a deal.

Of particular concern was a proposal by Norway and Latin American countries to commit countries to reduce emissions to zero by 2050. Ms Bishop said the proposal would damage Australia economically.

"We wouldn't sign up to that," Ms Bishop said.

"How could one possibly commit to having fossil fuel free world by 2050 at best it is an aspiration. I am interested grounding our text in fact and reality.

"We would not sign up to targets that would damage our economy, would send jobs offshore, would close down manufacturing. It is in no one's interest  for Australia to be damaged economically."

United Nations secretary-general Ban-ki Moon told delegates at the conference that the time had come to stop "tinkering" and reach a climate change agreement that would achieve "transformation".

"From Manhattan to Mumbai to Melbourne, hundreds of people marched for climate action," Mr Moon said.

"And Governments are responding in unprecedented ways. Despite these positive steps, I am deeply concerned that our collective action does not match our common responsibilities."

with Lisa Cox

Marcus Priest travelled to Lima with the assistance of the Clean Energy Council as winner of its 2013 media award.