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Kyoto recommitment comes with caveats and timeline

AUSTRALIA will sign up to a second round of the Kyoto Protocol, joining the European Union as one of only a handful of major greenhouse gas emitters to recommit to the world's only climate treaty.

The Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet, will announce the decision on Friday in Melbourne saying there has been sufficient progress in international climate change talks to make the commitment, with some conditions.

It is understood Mr Combet will also say the decision ensures Australian businesses have access to cheap international offset credits, mainly created through clean energy projects in developing countries, to help meet domestic greenhouse targets.

The Kyoto Protocol was first negotiated by countries in 1997 and required wealthy countries, including Australia, to limit the amount of greenhouse gases they released into the atmosphere. It is due to expire at the end of this year.

Through United Nations climate change negotiations countries have agreed to work on a replacement treaty for Kyoto. If successful, it would be agreed by 2015 and take effect in 2020. The new treaty would include emissions targets for both wealthy and developing nations.

At climate negotiations in South Africa last year countries also agreed that a second round of the Kyoto Protocol would be put in place until a new treaty takes effect.

The European Union and a handful of small wealthy countries have committed to a second round of Kyoto, but some major wealthy nations including the US, Canada, Russia and Japan are refusing to sign on.

Australia's support for another round of Kyoto comes with conditions, including that there is continuing progress on a post-2020 deal. Australia also wants the second round to last until 2020.