Reported yesterday by the Age newspaper, Rudd referred to his government’s $100 million Global Institute announced two months ago which will advance CCS development.

Talking at the APEC meeting of international leaders, Rudd said Australia wanted a leadership role as it was the world’s leading coal exporter and had a responsibility to find ways to burn coal safely.

Rudd said one-third of greenhouse gas emissions would come from coal-fired power stations in the future, “therefore acting in this area is of critical importance for the future".

Having passed around a briefing note on the Australian government’s CCS plans, Rudd said he received a positive response from many leaders.

Reportedly, governments seeking more information and also considering possible investment in CCS hailed from South Korea, Russia, Canada and Mexico.

Peruvian President Alan Garcia said the financial crisis would not prevent APEC nations from meeting their responsibilities to future generations.

“It is for this reason that we are accepting these new mechanisms of capture of carbon that have been proposed by Australia," Garcia said.

Some 80% of Australia’s electricity is generated by coal-fired power plants.