THE Opposition is seeking to get on the front foot in the climate debate by offering bipartisan support for Australia and Indonesia to host a meeting of the major economies.
Spokesman Greg Hunt will say in a letter to Climate Change Minister Penny Wong this week that Australia and Indonesia would represent a ''strong partnership'' between the developed and developing world.
The two countries could spark a new round of international talks, beginning with the core players and working towards genuine binding reductions, the letter will say.
The Coalition is also only days off releasing its climate alternative, which eschews an emissions trading scheme.
On another front, the Southern Cross Climate Coalition, which includes unions, conservationists, the welfare sector and the Climate Institute, has written to the Prime Minister urging that Australia confirm in its submission to the Copenhagen Accord its commitment to reducing emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 as part of an international effort.
The Major Economies Forum of 17 economies, launched by US President Barack Obama and building on an initiative of George Bush, met last year in Italy. The aim was to add momentum to the Copenhagen conference, but it didn't have much impact. There has not been another forum meeting scheduled.
Mr Hunt writes: ''In light of the failure of the Copenhagen talks and the UN climate process we offer bipartisan support for Australia to jointly host a meeting of the Major Economies Forum with Indonesia.
''We believe that the most important step forward now is for the United States and China along with countries such as Indonesia, Brazil, Russia and the European Union to begin small group meetings aimed at ensuring there is a genuine path forward for significant emissions reductions from the major countries.
''Australia and Indonesia would represent a strong partnership between the developed and developing world and therefore could help drive forward a new round of international talks.
''We believe that it is fundamental that Australia seeks genuine binding reductions from the key sources of global emissions growth - China, India and Indonesia - in addition to developed world commitments.''
The Opposition supported the Government's target range for Copenhagen of 5 per cent to 25 per cent, depending on international efforts. Australia will submit its position on its targets by January 31.
The climate coalition says the current level of global ambition means that the conditions the Government set for Australia to adopt a 15 per cent target are likely to be met, and that, while challenging, the conditions for the 25 per cent target could still be met.
In addition to the Australian submission, Mr Rudd should make a clear statement recognising the movement from other countries, that the conditions for the 15 per cent target are likely to be met, and that Australia will be doing all it can to get a stronger outcome, the climate coalition says.
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