Former US vice-president and Nobel Peace prize winner for his work on climate change Al Gore urged Australia to pass a carbon trading scheme, even if flawed, as a sign of leadership leading up to the Copenhagen negotiations.

 

Speaking in Melbourne, where he spent time training 300 climate change disciples from the Asia-Pacific region last weekend, Gore discussed similarities between the debates about emissions trading and greenhouse reduction targets in Australia and the US. He said it was critical that the  two countries enact emissions trading laws now, rather than after the Copenhagen conference. 

 

“I don’t want to interfere with Australian affairs — or at least I don’t want to be caught doing it,” Gore said.

 

“I say at home that the legislation pending in my country is not what I would have written – I would have written it as a stronger bill – but I am realistic about what can be accomplished within the political system as it is,” he added.

 

“With new leadership in both the United States and Australia, our two countries are providing leadership. When that leadership is most needed is in the run-up to Copenhagen. It can make a huge difference.”