Australia will use its new gig as co-chair of a global fund for climate change action in poorer countries to speed up the release of cash for projects.
The federal government last month revealed it had been invited to co-chair the $10 billion fund with South Africa, having last year pledged $200 million.
That donation has been redirected from the existing foreign aid budget.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt, who is in Paris for major climate talks, said Australia's priority would be the quick flow of money, which had been held up due to a lack of "decisive capability".
"The beauty of the Green Climate Fund is that it's non-bureaucratic but the weakness so far is that it's been slow to actually get the money out the door into projects," he told a forum on climate finance.
Australia's co-chair appointment came as a surprise to some, after former prime minister Tony Abbott criticised the fund as the "Bob Brown bank".
The government caved at last year's climate talks in Lima to pledge the $200 million to the fund after repeated ruling out contributing.
Now Australia wants to fix the fund's weaknesses and hopes to facilitate a harmonised trio of direct country, private sector and international organisation funding.
Oxfam Australia's climate change advocacy coordinator Simon Bradshaw believes Australia must use its role to direct funding to some of the most at-risk communities.
It was difficult for smaller countries - who needed the money the most - to access the fund, he said.
"Australia can and must use its role as co-chair to help ensure that the fund delivers for those who need it most," he told AAP in Paris on Thursday.
Oxfam called on Australia to match its co-chair commitment with extra cash for the Green Climate Fund and continue bilateral climate aid programs.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told the United Nations conference on Monday Australia would spend at least $1 billion on climate finance over the next five years, including the $200 million for the fund.
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