Australia 'to reduce pollution by 2020'

Australia has submitted new guidelines on cutting its emissions by 2020.

Depending on the plans laid out by other countries such as India and China, a new report has said the country aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by five to 15 per cent within the next 11 years.

The report said the government would be prepared to make a 15 per cent cut should other countries follow suit during the United Nations climate treaty 2009.

Prime minister Kevin Rudd responded to criticism from environmentalists and commented that the goals "deliver necessary reform to tackle the long-term challenge of climate change, while supporting our economy and securing jobs during this global recession".

He added that without the cap and reduction plans, the country's emissions would grow by around 20 per cent by the timeframe set out.

Last week, Mexico announced that it aims to cut its carbon emissions by half before 2050.