Tony Abbott’s climate change stance has been labelled “eccentric”, “baffling” and that of a “flat-earther” by senior British conservative politicians.

In an interview with Fairfax, senior UK Tory politicians said Mr Abbott’s climate change stance was alarming and a betrayal of fundamental conservative beliefs.

Almost 25 years ago, conservative British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, an idol of Mr Abbott’s, stressed the importance of addressing climate change to the United Nations.

• Bishop chides Obama
• Abbott belted on climate change

Tim Yeo, chairman of the UK’s parliamentary select committee on energy and climate change, said he was ‘perplexed’ by Australia’s approach toward climate change.

“Some of us are very perplexed. I was last in Australia at the beginning of last year, before the election, and had conversations with people on both sides of the political divide,” Mr Yeo said.

Barack Obama, in Brisbane, said Australia was at risk of losing its Great Barrier Reef.

“I was amazed at some of the views. If I was Australian, I’d be concerned if my country’s economic future and prosperity became dependent on continued coal export.”

John Gummer, the chairman of the independent Climate Change Commission, said other conservative leaders like British Prime Minister David Cameron also disagreed with Mr Abbott’s stance.

“I have no doubt that people like David Cameron will be saying to Tony Abbott ‘look conservatives are supposed to conserve, they are supposed to hand on to the next generation something better than they received themselves’,” Mr Gummer said.

Australia has committed to reducing its carbon emissions by five per cent by 2020, while the UK has promised to cut emissions by at least 80 per cent by 2050.

Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended Australia’s climate policies in the wake of American President Barack Obama’s G20 speech on climate change in Brisbane, saying he ‘misunderstood’ Australia’s approach.

Greg Barker, David Cameron’s former Minister for Energy and Climate Change, said Australia was shirking its international responsibility.

“I think there is a lot of concern about Australia and yes, perhaps it is disproportionate versus its place in the global economy,” Mr Barker said.

“People are concerned, slightly baffled by the approach that Australia is taking which looks, actually, slightly eccentric.”