Greenpeace said yesterday's political drama missed a fundamental point - that Australia would not have to cut its domestic greenhouse gas emissions, and could meet targets by paying for international offsets.

''Regardless of what the Coalition do, the scheme that is on offer from Kevin Rudd is a fraud,'' said Greenpeace campaigns head Steve Campbell.

But WWF Australia maintained support for the scheme, reasoning it could still deliver a 25 per cent emissions reduction by 2020. WWF chief executive Greg Bourne said that while the scheme had been ''considerably weakened'' by offering an extra $7 billion compensation to industry, it would start the country on the road to a low-carbon economy.

He said passing the bill was Australia's best chance of contributing to a strong result at the Copenhagen climate summit next month.

''Australia's ability to show we are serious and have a plan in place is supremely important,'' he said. "These proposed amendments are reasonable.''