An interim report by the new Australian Government's Climate Change expert points to a quickened pace for climate change higher than the levels discussed at Bali and suggests that cuts in greenhouse gases need to be much higher than was believed last year. The report indicates that a country like Australia will need to cut greenhouse gases by 90% by 2050. The Govenment's target is 60%.

Professor Ross Garnaut, the report's author and the Government's climate expert, said Australia could be the "biggest loser" among developed countries if aggressive action was not taken. However, he recommended that Australia only take action in line with other developed nations. When asked by the Australian television network, the ABC, if this would impact on economic growth, Professor Garnaut said no provided the international community acted in unison.

He said Australia needed to take a strong leadership role in international negotiations, including pressuring the United States to join action and convincing developing countries to also reduce their levels of greenhouse gas pollution.

Australia is wasteful with energy. Most of its energy is sourced from coal, which it has in abundance, its lifestyle makes it one of the highest emitters of greenhouse gases per capita in the world. Australia's 21 nillion people emit 1% of the world's emissions.

Professor Garnaut said he believed Australia was well placed to reduce its energy use. Past "profligacy" meant cuts would be relatively easy to make.

Australia because of its size and resources has many opportunities to deploy renewable energy projects and in the case coal carbon capture. The issue for a country of its size has always been scale and the ability to finance locally innovative projects with a long lead time.

The report can be obtained from www.garnautreview.org.au/