Kevin Rudd, the Australian prime minister, on Monday made ratifying the Kyoto protocol on climate change his first official act after his inauguration. The news was greeted with a three-minute standing ovation at the annual conference of the United Nations on the Kyoto protocol, taking place this year in Bali, Indonesia.

“Australia’s official declaration today that we will become a member of the Kyoto protocol is a significant step forward in our country’s efforts to fight climate change domestically – and with the international community,” Mr Rudd said on Monday after signing. But the move was largely symbolic, as Australia was one of the few in the developed world likely to meet its targets under the treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.