The federal government has promised a review of climate policies will be "fair dinkum" and "very serious" despite the environment minister describing it as a situation report.
Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg says the 2017 review was about checking existing policies and not about resetting emissions reduction targets.
Some climate groups are concerned that could lead to a brush-over review instead of one that should produce an evidence-based suite of policies.
But cabinet minister Arthur Sinodinos insists the prime minister is committed to a serious review process.
"It's a fair dinkum, rolled gold, properly constituted review," he told a Senate committee on Friday.
"It is serious."
Senator Sinodinos promised a transparent review, involving consultation with stake holders across the country.
"In this day and age you can't get away with just doing things within government," he said.
The environment department won't say if it advised the minister not to use terms like "sit-rep" to describe the review.
Senator Sinodinos also side-stepped that question, describing Mr Frydenberg as an "excellent minister".
Australia, along with 195 international parties, has pledged to do its part to reduce domestic carbon emissions and keep global warming to two degrees.
Greens senator Larissa Waters said Mr Frydenberg's sitrep description had been slapped down by Senator Sinodinos and the department on Friday.
She insists a fair-dinkum review would need a plan for orderly, rapid transition away from coal and gas.
The public had a right to expect a science-based review of pollution reduction targets and consideration of the national electricity objectives, she told AAP.
