Arnie hosts Paris climate talks

ARNOLD Schwarzenegger has visited Paris to chair a conference on protecting the environment and reducing climate change.

The Hollywood star and former governor of California travelled to France in his role as head of the R20 group of regional authorities fighting climate change worldwide.

The two-day summit comes ahead of next year's UN climate conference in Paris, where world leaders will discuss a deal on cutting carbon emissions.

Scharwarzenegger was greeted by President Hollande, the president's ecology adviser Nicolas Hulot and the French foreign minister Laurent Fabius.

The actor also took time to visit the Paris Motor Show and see some of the latest electric cars.

The R20 meeting ended with political and business leaders from around the world signing a declaration setting out commitments to tackle climate change through concrete actions.

Schwarzenegger told reporters: "We are big believers in the regional approach, in the sub-national approach.

"Maybe, the UN will come to an agreement right away - and hopefully when they have the negotiations in Paris, they will come to an agreement.

"The fight against climate change is my crusade and I will never abandon that. Our responsibility is to leave this world to future generations in a better state than how we found it."