On 3 December, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd signed the instrument of ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. This was the first official act of the new Australian Government.
I welcome this clear demonstration of Labor’s commitment to facing up to the challenges of climate change and water. They are the greatest challenges of this century.
The Federal Government is committed to doing everything in its power to help Australia meet its Kyoto Protocol obligations. With the leadership of Kevin Rudd, Australia will now:

• set a target to reduce emissions by 60% on 2000 levels by 2050 


• establish a national emissions trading scheme by 2010 


• set a 20% target for renewable energy by 2020 to dramatically expand the use of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind.

I have campaigned long and hard for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, including introducing a Private Members Bill into Parliament.
After more than eleven years of climate change denial under John Howard, Kevin Rudd and Labor are making Australia part of the global climate change solution.