The Australian government has struck a deal with opposition¹ leaders on a revised carbon trading scheme.

澳大利亚政府与在野党首领达成一项修订版的二氧化碳排放协议。

The emissions² trading scheme (ETS), aimed at reducing Australia's carbon footprint, is the centrepiece of the government's environmental strategy.

Opposition parties must give the new deal their backing on Tuesday ahead of a parliamentary vote due this week.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd wants the scheme passed before next month's UN climate summit in Copenhagen.

Correspondents say that if the ETS is defeated in Australia's upper house（上议院）, where the government does not have a majority, it would provide a trigger for an early election.

Australian media reported that the government had agreed to more compensation for heavy-polluting industries to gain the support of opposition leaders.

'Good package'

"I think we have an exceptional package. It's a deal that will protect jobs and the environment in Australia," said Ian Macfarlane, of the opposition Liberal Party.

He said he was confident the deal would be accepted by opposition parties, but added: "I will wait for the party room to see who is going to decide to vote for this."

The BBC's Nick Bryant, in Sydney, says the scheme is still unpopular among many opposition politicians, who question the scientific case for global warming.

Since most of Australia's prosperity（繁荣，兴旺） is based on its resources sector³ - and coal in particular - the energy lobby has argued it would damage the economy, he adds.

Australia has the highest per capita carbon emissions among developed nations and coal is its biggest export.

Mr Rudd earlier told the BBC that he believed a framework agreement on carbon emissions could be struck in Copenhagen that could be turned into a legally binding⁴ treaty in 2010.