Rudd takes lead at climate talks

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is taking the lead on climate change, demanding the US join other developed companies to embrace targets and cut carbon emissions.

He also called on developed nations to set targets on climate change in exchange for assistance from richer nations.

Rudd told the UN climate change conference in Bali that global warning was threatening the Great Barrier Reef and exposing people to more frequent bushfires.

He said he will join an international agreement to impose cuts on carbon emissions.

“We expect all developed countries to embrace a further set of binding emission targets and we need this meeting at Bali to map out the process and timeline in which this happens,” he said.

However he refused to set any preferred targets despite participants pushing to adopt a reduction target of between 25% to 40% by 2020.

Rudd is still set on waiting for the Garnaut report next year before making the decision.

Rudd’s cabinet ratified the Kyoto protocol last week.