Australia not 'a climate change outcast' - Breaking News - National - Breaking News

Australia's chairmanship of an international climate change forum showed the nation was not an outcast on the issue as claimed by critics, Environment Minister Ian Campbell said.

But green critics believe Australia will struggle to maintain credibility while it continues to expand its greenhouse emissions.

Australian Greenhouse Office head Howard Bamsey has been appointed co-chair of the Dialogue on Long-term Cooperative Action on Climate Change, which involves 189 nations.

The appointment was clear evidence that Australia not only had a seat at the international table battling climate change, but was leading the way, Senator Campbell said.

Critics say Australia's refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse gas emissions has left it on the outer in international moves to combat the man-made warming of the planet.

Australia has instead gone down the path of a six-nation regional pact to promote and exchange technologies to clean up existing fossil fuel industries.

"At the United Nations annual climate change conference held in Montreal last December, the world recognised the need to begin discussions about effective long-term cooperative action on climate change," Senator Campbell said.

"The Dialogue on Long-term Cooperative Action on Climate Change which Mr Bamsey has been asked to co-chair is the first step in discussing and thinking about future global action post-2012.

"The Kyoto commitment period ends in 2012, but the world's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions must continue well beyond this date."

Senator Campbell said the Future Action Dialogue would look at how to further strengthen international cooperation to cut emissions of heat-trapping gases and to respond to climate change impacts.

It will discuss a range of possible approaches including incentives for developing countries to mitigate climate change, cooperation on research and development, and the transfer of cleaner technologies.

Greenpeace said the appointment was surprising "given its spoiler history".

"The Howard government has a long and unfortunate history of blocking progress in these crucial climate change negotiations," Greenpeace spokesman Mark Wakeham said.

"I hope this doesn't turn into a case of the fox guarding the chookhouse."

Mr Wakeham said the last international climate deal which Australia facilitated was based on modelling that would lead to a doubling of greenhouse pollution by 2050.

"(This comes as) scientists tell us we must reduce it by at least 60 per cent," he said, referring to the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate.

Australian Conservation Foundation spokesman Erwin Jackson welcomed the talks but said Australia would struggle to maintain credibility in the discussions while its greenhouse emissions spiralled out of control.

"The reality is Australia will have trouble retaining credibility on the world stage until we get serious about curbing our own greenhouse pollution levels," Mr Jackson said.

"The federal government's failure to establish laws to cut greenhouse pollution is letting big polluters, like BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Alcoa, off the hook.

"Without additional laws and incentives to cut greenhouse pollution, Australia's emissions will increase to more than 20 per cent above 1990 levels by 2020."

© 2006 AAP