Addressing an Asia Society discussion in New York, Mr Rudd said the world could not continue to ignore the science of climate change.
The former prime minister, who delayed his government’s own emissions trading scheme during his tenure, said action by China was vital.
“If China gets its approach to climate change right, we've got a chance,” he said.
“… Climate change threatens all of us. It threatens China, it threatens America, it threatens Australia.”
Mr Rudd said although there are conflicts of interest between the countries, there was space to work and “transform this relationship over time” in order to define concerted national efforts on climate change.
'There is some basic science here that we can't get away from'
He described inaction on climate change was a “huge problem”.
“There is some basic science here that we can't get away from,” he said.
“There is a finite quantum of greenhouse gases we can have in the atmosphere before we risk irreversible change.”
Mr Rudd said there was a need for China to articulate its own carbon ceiling, while former US Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson, said pricing carbon would lead to energy efficiency.
Their comments come ahead of an international summit on climate change this month.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will host the Climate Summit in New York on September 23, which Tony Abbott has said he will not attend.
The Australian Prime Minister has also made repeated comments that climate change will not be discussed at the G20 Leaders’ Summit, to be held in Brisbane in November.
“It's important that we keep a strong and focused agenda if we are to achieve anything significant,” he said in June.
“I'd be surprised if climate change doesn't come up as part of the G20 - but the focus of the G20 will overwhelmingly be our economic security.”
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