Australia ratifies Kyoto protocol

New Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said today he had signed the paperwork to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on global warming, nine days after sweeping to power in elections that ended more than 11 years of conservative rule.

“This is the first official act of the new Australian government, demonstrating my government’s commitment to tackling climate change,” Rudd said in a statement issued hours after he and his ministers were officially sworn in.