With a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change calling for a rapid and radical cut to greenhouse gas emissions, the Australian Greens say it's time for the Abbott government to get out of the way of Australia's transformation into a low-carbon economy.

"The Abbott government needs to give up the protection racket for Australia's big polluters and start protecting communities. They need to get out of the way of the positive transition that's happening and stop trying to take this country backwards," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

The Australian Greens say Tony Abbott is actively leading Australia down a dark and dangerous path to suffering from global warming.

"On the international stage our Prime Minister is seen as ‘flaky'," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

"Respected British economist Lord Nicholas Stern has seen fit to say that this government's actions show it's not serious about climate change."

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released its long-anticipated fifth report and the Australian Greens say the message is clear: no one on the planet will be unaffected by climate change and governments must act to protect their communities.

"In the face of more calls for a global response, the Abbott government wants to rip up every policy and tear down every defence that Australia has against climate change," said Greens Leader Christine Milne.

The just released IPCC report re-confirms what most of us have now known for years: the world is warming and we are rapidly exhausting the carbon budget for a safe climate. Urgent and deep emission cuts globally are needed, leaving the Australian Government no option but to abandon Direct Action and take urgent and serious measures immediately, Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne said tonight.