But political analysts are not convinced, saying Howard's green conversion is more rhetoric than reality, designed to position the government ahead of next year's elections.

"He doesn't give the impression of a man who is really convinced, but he can't afford to give the impression he has been asleep at the watch," John Warhurst, professor of politics at the Australian National University, told Reuters on Friday.

The Age newspaper's political editor, Michelle Grattan, agrees, saying Howard remains a climate-change sceptic who is playing practical politics.

"Howard knows he has a political problem. Climate change has grabbed voters' attention: those talking it up can no longer be discussed as just 'green'," Grattan wrote in The Age newspaper on Friday. "But Howard isn't convinced about the dangers."

Climate change, and Australia's troop commitments in Iraq, are shaping up as the two key issues for the next Australian election, due in the second half of 2007.

Howard's government is struggling in the polls midway through his fourth term, with the centre-left Labor opposition cementing a narrow lead on the back of promises to sign the Kyoto Protocol and bring Australian forces home from Iraq.

Australians are already feeling the impact of global warming. Severe drought is covering half of the nation's farmlands and high spring temperatures point to scorching summer and more forest fires following the hottest year on record in 2005.

FOUNTAINS, HOSES TURNED OFF

To preserve water, the southern city of Melbourne has turned off its public fountains. Other cities have imposed bans on using a hose to wash a car or rinse down pavements, and it is illegal in most cities to water gardens during daylight hours.

The global warming issue came to a head when a British report by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern warned of a global depression unless action was taken, saying Australia exported greenhouse emissions through its vast coal exports.

Howard is a strong supporter of Australia's coal industry, which is expected to export about 139 million tonnes of coal worth A$17 billion (US$13.2 billion) this year, and he has steadfastly refused to ratify the Kyoto protocol.

He believes in a "practical" approach to climate change, pushing technology to clean up coal and then hoping to share that technology with energy-hungry nations China and India, which are not subject to Kyoto targets.

Howard told Australian television that it was important not to over-react to the Stern report, and said signing the Kyoto protocol would be a symbolic act that would achieve nothing.

"If we were to sign Kyoto tomorrow, it wouldn't represent a practical measure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the years ahead," Howard said. "If, on the other hand, we invest in clean coal technology ... then that is a practical measure."

But a Newspoll commissioned by environmental groups, published on Thursday, found 79 percent of voters want Howard to sign the Kyoto Protocol, while eight out of 10 Howard supporters want more government action on climate change.

Warhurst said Howard was keeping a close eye on public opinion and was leaving options open to become even more green ahead of the election.