Reports suggest the Government is moving to adopt a regional emissions trading program. (File photo) (Getty Images)

Govt 'has no credibility' to set-up regional emissions trading

The Federal Opposition says Prime Minister John Howard has no credibility to negotiate an emissions trading scheme with Australia's neighbours.

Newspaper reports today suggest the Government is moving towards a regional emissions trading program at this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

The new plan would include the US and China in setting a price on carbon and a target for greenhouse gas emissions.

Labor leader Kevin Rudd says the announcement is a pre-election stunt and Mr Howard should have acted five years ago.

"Mr Howard's problem is he goes to our friends and neighbours in the region with no credibility, because his Government has been denying the reality of climate change for more than a decade it's been in office," he said.

The ALP also says the Government's plan is a step down from the Kyoto Protocol.

Labor's spokesman for the environment Peter Garrett says the trading scheme was already set-up with the Kyoto agreement.

But Mr Garrett says he will take a look at the scheme.

"Obviously we're open-minded about it, but it comes on the back of 11 years of inaction, of denial and of do nothing on the part of the Howard Government in relation to climate change and global warming," he said.

"It comes a little late and a little close to the election cycle to have a great deal of credibility."

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