Al Gore tours Australia to boost COP21 climate momentum
Former U.S. vice-president aiming to build global momentum in the build up to the key UN Paris climate conference
Al Gore, the former United States vice-president, is in Australia to build global momentum in the build up to the key United Nations’ Paris climate conference later this year.
Mr Gore arrived in Melbourne on Sunday and will meet with state government ministers and business leaders to discuss climate change.
Gore will address senior executives from major companies, including BHP, National Australia Bank and Qantas, to highlight the importance of the Paris meeting, when a new international deal to limit global warming is due to be signed.
Ministers from Victoria, Queensland and South Australia attended a meeting on Monday with Mr Gore while New South Wales and the ACT were represented by senior public servant.
The meeting is expected to result in a statement of agreed principles among the ministers attending, including a pledge to develop measures to cut greenhouse gas emissions to help meet the internationally-agreed goal of limiting average global temperature increases to below 2°C.
Gore has advocated action by "sub-national" governments on climate change to bolster efforts at the national level.
Victorian Environment Minister Lisa Neville said: "I think there is a willingness for all the states to be working in this space… I am confident that over the next few months leading into Paris that will strengthen and we can work more closely together."
The head of the California Air Resources Board, Mary Nichols, also addressed the meeting via video link to highlight the role of environmental action at state level.
California has implemented an emissions trading scheme and has introduced significant financial incentives to boost solar energy generation.
Premier of Victoria Daniel Andrews has launched a review of the state’s climate law, and has promised to develop a wide ranging renewable energy plan.
The 21st session of the Conference of the Parties (COP21) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will run from November 30 to December 11 and a global climate deal is expected to be signed by all UN-member states.