Climate Change Minister Penny Wong says the Rudd government's lowest proposed pollution reduction target figure of five per cent would still be significant.
The Labor government on Monday broke an election pledge, pushing its emissions trading scheme back a year to July 2011, because of the global financial crisis.
But the government has pushed its emissions reduction target up to 25 per cent of 2000 levels by 2020 - up from a maximum of 15 per cent - depending on the strength of an international agreement.
However, the bottom end of the target range is still five per cent, which Senator Wong defends.
"Let's get the facts on the table. The unconditional commitment is to a reduction of five per cent and that's of 2000 levels which is still a significant reduction," Senator Wong told ABC Television.
The Australian government is prepared to increase its emissions target to 25 per cent if major emitters agree to an ambitious target at Copenhagen in December.
"What we are saying is if the rest of the world moves, we're prepared to go up to 15 per cent and if the world is prepared to go for a very ambitious agreement, that will enable us to stabilise at 450 parts per million ... then we would be prepared to go to 25 per cent but that is only if the rest of the world moves," Senator Wong said.
"And that is because we do want to provide momentum for the negotiations to secure the agreement that is in Australia's national interest."
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Senator Wong have cautioned the 25 per cent target was "highly conditional" on the UN summit agreeing to stabilise carbon dioxide levels to the equivalent in the atmosphere to 450 parts per million or less by 2050.
Meanwhile, the coalition says it's committed to reducing carbon emissions by five per cent but says achieving a global agreement to slash emissions by a much larger amount is "nigh on impossible".
Coalition frontbencher Andrew Robb, who is assisting Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull on an emissions trading design, said the coalition was backing a five per cent reduction target by 2020.
"We believe that we can deliver at least that target and probably better without sacrificing tens of thousands of jobs and with giving business certainty," Mr Robb told ABC Television.
Mr Robb said a global agreement to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent was unlikely.
"The government knows that that's nigh on impossible if that's going to occur," he said.
"It's a hollow promise, it's a hollow guarantee.
"The only firm guarantee this government has given is that they will seek to deliver five per cent cuts by 2020.
"We believe that we can deliver at least as good as the Labor Party is promising, and better and if there is a global agreement ... well in many respects there would not be the debate we're having now."
The Liberal Party's coalition partner the Nationals are opposed to an emissions trading scheme.
Mr Turnbull earlier described the new plan as a "massive backdown" and said the government should refer the proposals to the Productivity Commission for an inquiry.
He said the opposition would not be supporting the scheme in its current form.
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