Australia's parliament has rejected a plan for one of the world's most ambitious emissions trade programs.

Conservative lawmakers holding the largest block of votes in the Senate joined together to defeat the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. It was set to start in July 2011, and was aimed at reducing emissions in the biggest per-capita emitter in the developed world.

The opposition wants to negotiate the bill with the government before it is brought before the Senate again.

[Barnaby Joyce, National Leader]:
"What we have now is a delay of the bill. When it comes back again we'll delay it again, we will continue our fight."

Prime Minister Rudd told Parliament that the defeat of his emissions trading plan has "put Australia's future on climate change in grave jeopardy."

[Kevin Rudd, Australian Prime Minister]:
"It is a very disappointing day indeed for Australia.”

Rudd has promised emissions cuts of 5-25 percent by 2020.