Australia is one of the world's major fossil fuel exporters
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The Australian Government has launched a multi-million dollar scheme to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, widely blamed as a cause of global warming.
Prime Minister John Howard said the aim was to provide sustainability and security in the energy sector.
But opposition politicians dismissed the scheme as vote-buying ahead of a general election due this autumn.
Environmental group Greenpeace said the measures would increase Australia's dependence on fossil fuels.
The centrepiece of the scheme is a A$500m (US$350m) fund for investment and research into low-carbon emission technologies.
A A$75m "Solar Cities" programme would encourage householders to use alternative energy sources, such as solar panels.
The scheme's announcement came just days after the opposition Labour party recruited high-profile environmental activist and former rock singer Peter Garrett as a candidate in the forthcoming elections.
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