Environment Minister Ian Campbell said that while Australia -- which has refused to sign the Kyoto protocol on global warming -- was focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it was also important to be prepared to adapt to inevitable climate change.

"The report tells us that some degree of climate change is inevitable because of greenhouse gases already emitted to the atmosphere and the strong growth of global emissions," Campbell said in a statement.

Campbell said the report on climate change would help Australia's government, industries and communities begin to respond to the climate changes that were likely over the next two to three decades.

Australia is suffering one of its worst droughts in a century, which Treasurer Peter Costello has said was dampening the country's economic growth.

A panel of scientists that advises the United Nations has said world temperatures are likely to rise by 1.4-5.8C by 2100, triggering more frequent floods, droughts, melting icecaps and driving thousands of species to extinction.

Despite the Australian government not signing the global Kyoto protocol because it says the pact unfairly excludes developing nations, Campbell said Australia was on track to meet its Kyoto emissions target.

Kyoto came into force in February after years of delays and a pullout by the United States, the world's top polluter.

Under Kyoto, rich nations are meant to cut emissions of heat-trapping gases from power plants, cars and factories by 5.2 percent below 1990 levels by 2008-12 to try to slow what many scientists say could be catastrophic climatic changes.

"The Australian government is strongly focused on reducing emissions at home and globally and it is equally important that we plan for unavoidable effects of climate change, as highlighted by this report," Campbell said.