Australia acts on global warming

Australia's prime minister, John Howard, has made clear his country's commitment to fighting climate change.

Australia is the largest exporter of coal in the world and has a huge amount of fossil fuel. Fiscally, the country's future could depend on making sure these fuels are made to last.

Mr Howard's government has put a great deal into the development of new technology aimed at providing alternatives or more efficient methods for using fossil fuel.

"The government has established a special $500 million (£198.9 million) fund to be used in partnership with companies and state governments to invest in new technologies designed to produce cleaner fossil energy and also renewable energy," Mr Howard noted in his weekly radio address.

"Starting this week, the government will announce the first projects to be supported out of this fund. The total Commonwealth investment in these projects will be at least $230 million (£91.49 million). The total investment to be leveraged will be close to $2 billion (£800 million)."

Cleaner and 'greener' technology is a large part of the new funding and is designed to not only prolong the country's supplies, but also to ensure that they are utilised in a more environmentally friendly manner.