The statement, signed by BHP CEO Andrew Mackenzie, AGL Energy CEO Andrew Vesey, Santos managing director David Knox, Wesfarmers MD Richard Goyder, GE regional boss Geoff Culbert, Unilever ANZ chairman Clive Stiff, Westpac MD Brian Hartzer and Mirvac MD Susan Lloyd-Hurwitz, says the businesses recognise that climate change is affecting both their sectors and the community.

"We recognise that we have a role to play and we want to play our part," the statement reads.

"We represent a diverse group of companies from the energy, resources, retail, infrastructure, technology, consumer goods, property, services, banking and finance sectors. Together we employ over 620,000 people across 175 countries."

The eight companies emit around 12% of Australia's national greenhouse gas emissions per annum.

"We have come together because we acknowledge that climate change will continue to have serious implications for our customers, the community and the economy," the statement said.

The group of eight recognised there are risks to manage, and that by investing in Australia's response to climate change will deliver significant economic, social and environmental benefits.

"We support the Australian government's commitment to limit global warming to less than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, alongside other nations within an international agreement," the statement explained.

"Australia needs to play its fair part in global action. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change concludes that to achieve this goal we must achieve zero net emissions of greenhouse gases before the end of the century."

The statement said that the sooner action could be agreed on, the easier and cheaper it would be tackle the issue, and supported the decoupling of economic and emissions growth.

"Our companies are reducing our emissions, investing in technology and innovation, preparing for physical impacts and working across industry and the community to build a strong global response to climate change," it said.

The eight companies said that Australia is a significant exporter of energy and also had plentiful clean energy resources, and has a strategic interest in managing climate change.

"We pledge to continue to support the ongoing development and implementation of effective international frameworks and effective domestic policy responses," it concluded.

The statement sets out no individual actions for the companies, but comes two years after the Abbott government scrapped the carbon tax, which had succeeded in reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.

The dumped prime minister had intended to take an initial commitment to aim to reduce emissions by 26% on 2005 levels by 2030 to COP21.

The Climate Institute said that in order limit warming to less than 2C the maximum amount of pollution Australia can emit to 2050 is around 8-9 billion tonnes.

Abbott's proposed target would see this limit breached in just 14 years' time, by 2029.

It is unknown if new PM Malcom Turnbull, who was replaced by climate sceptic Abbott over an attempt to introduce and emissions trading scheme, will change the government's climate change policy.