US isolated over Kyoto as new Australian Prime Minister will ratify

Australian Labour Party leader, Mr Kevin Rudd MP, becomes Australia's new Prime Minister following elections on 24 November, signaling a major shift in the country's climate change policies.

Key will be an immediate ratification of the Kyoto Protocol leaving the US isolated and the only major country now not signed up.

The new Prime Minister in his acceptance speech spoke of the need "to act and act urgently on the great challenges of climate change" and has stated his aim to restore Australia's international leadership on climate change.

Former Prime Minster, John Howard, in power for 11 years, failed to act on climate change which Rudd has argued led to uncertainty for industry and delayed much needed investment in new, cleaner forms of power generation and other key infrastructure.

Rudd has also pledged to implement an emissions trading scheme in 2010, providing the right market signals for industry with a target to reduce emissions by 60 per cent by 2050 (based on levels from 2000).

For domestic homes, the Labor government will help families with cash rebates for solar panels and low interest loans of up to $10,000 for practical action at home.

In his first press conference since becoming Prime Minister, Rudd reiterated his goal to make global warming a main priority, an issue already at the centre of discussions with other leaders:

"Climate change was a key focus of my conversations with the British prime minister and with Indonesian President Yudhoyono," he said .

"That will come to a focus at the Bali conference and I look forward very much to attending that." This year's United Nations Climate Change Conference (3-14 December) will be presided over by Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar, with support from the UN's Climate Change Secretariat.

More than 10,000 participants are expected to attend.