Gore and Branson in climate pact

Former US presidential candidate Al Gore is in London to announce a new climate change initiative alongside Richard Branson.

Mr Gore, who has a long record of campaigning on environmental issues, is presenting his latest ideas on the fight against global warming at Kensington Roof Gardens in west London.

It is not the first time Mr Gore and Virgin boss Branson have teamed up to promote green issues.

In September last year, the pair appeared on American television to discuss Branson's pledge to invest £1.6bn (€2.4bn) in alternative fuel development.

Branson said at the time that he was inspired to act when Mr Gore visited him at his London home.

The former vice-president, who brought global warming to prominence in his documentary film An Inconvenient Truth, told the Virgin boss he is in a position to make a difference.

They will be joined by James Hansen, head of the Nasa Institute for Space Studies, and environmentalists Crispin Tickell and James Lovelock at the Kensington event.

Australian conservationist Tim Flannery is also set to speak via satellite.