In the architecture of global climate-change policy and co-operation, Australia is at best a middle-ranking player. But the country's relative closeness to one of the world's largest emitters - China - could give it a bigger say than might otherwise be expected, in the view of a new report from the taskforce that advises Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on climate policy. Ross Garnaut, a former Australian ambassador to China, released on Friday the latest in a series of studies on how the government should respond to the climate change challenge. The report argues that how China determines and rolls out its response to climate change will be critical to the success, or otherwise, of the world's efforts to reduce global warming. Australia could play a very useful role on this front, argues Professor Garnaut. 'Australia has some unusual diplomatic assets in the developing countries that are centrally important to successful global mitigation policy,' he writes. 'Chinese policy is crucial to a successful global outcome. A history of close and productive co-operation on domestic and international policy through the reform period gives Australia a strong base for co-operation with China.' It is certainly true that, since the early 1980s, and particularly now under Mr Rudd, Australia has been able to relate to China in a more even-handed and measured way - and therefore potentially has greater influence - than have the United States and Japan, or even the European Union, for that matter. Australia's cultural, trading and strategic relations with China are essentially positive, and have been strengthened by the efforts of Mr Rudd and his predecessor John Howard. So, if Professor Garnaut's assumption is correct, what does Australia have to do to ensure that China is at the forefront of combating climate change? First, perhaps Australians should acknowledge that China has already taken significant steps in areas such as pollution reduction and renewable energy technologies. The reality, Professor Garnaut argues, is that China is in many respects already ahead of Australia in terms of dealing with climate change mitigation policies. Canberra has recently established a ministerial dialogue with Beijing on climate change. The first meeting will be held in November. But it is Mr Rudd himself, not just his ministers, who will have to play a significant role in getting China and the largest global emitter - the US - together. And he is well placed to do so, a point noted by Harvard economist Jeffrey Sachs, who said in July that there is 'probably no world leader better placed than Kevin Rudd to help intermediate the complex pas de deux that will begin between China and the US next year'. Australia has a chance to help stitch together a much-needed global climate change agreement if it can treat China as an equal partner, not a 'big, bad' polluter. Greg Barns is a political commentator in Australia and a former Australian government adviser
