Rudd accused of climate hypocrisy

Prime Minister John Howard has attacked Labor leader Kevin Rudd for trying to have it both ways on climate change.

Labor has committed to a carbon emission reduction target of 30 per cent by 2020.

Its leader, Kevin Rudd, has today called for an Australian equivalent of Britain's influential Stern report, exploring the economic impact of climate change.

But Mr Howard says it does not add up.

"It's very odd that he has called for a Stern report because we don't have the facts and figures, but he's already committed himself to a target," he said.

Mr Rudd continues to paint John Howard as a climate change sceptic.

"It's only very late in the piece in response to the political pressures of the electoral cycle that Mr Howard has decided to give the appearance of activity," he said.

Despite that, he insists it is time to leave politics out of the debate.

The ALP is holding a summit today with business and union leaders, academics and conservationists to prepare its climate change policy for the coming election.