Environment Minister Ian Campbell says it is not environmentally effective for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, even though the government still wants to meet the agreement's emissions targets.
The government has been on the back foot over its environmental policies in the past week after the release of the Stern report into global warming.
Prime Minister John Howard has been criticised for refusing to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, which allowed Australia a target of 108 per cent of its 1990 emissions by 2012.
Mr Howard says ratifying the agreement would harm Australia's economy and would contribute little to reducing overall global greenhouse emissions.
Senator Campbell today said Australia was committed to achieving its Kyoto target of 108 per cent, even though it would not formally sign up to the agreement.
"The cabinet then made a decision (not to ratify Kyoto) that was in Australia's national interest," he told ABC television.
"We wanted to demonstrate to the world and to the Australian people that we were serious about reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"We're trying to hit that 108 per cent target, it's not going to be easy, but we remain committed."
Senator Campbell said agreeing to Kyoto's binding emissions targets could seriously damage Australia's economy.
"The downside (of Kyoto) is, firstly, it's not environmentally effective," he said.
"Secondly, at the time the decision was made there were severe risks that signing up to this could harm the Australian economy."
By instituting practical measures to alleviate climate change, the government could "decouple" economic activity from greenhouse gas emissions, he said.
Australia supported efforts for a new global treaty on greenhouse gas reductions but did not support environmental policies based on a "slogan".
"We need an agreement that actually works, not (one which) ... is just a political slogan," Senator Campbell said.
A Newspoll published on 2 November found 91 per cent of Australians wanted a shift from reliance on coal-fired power to renewable energy.
Yesterday, tens of thousands of Australians rallied in cities around the nation for the Walk Against Warming.
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