Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, today met German State Secretary Matthias Machnig in Canberra to discuss climate change negotiations and emissions trading.

Mr Machnig is State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety and is visiting Australia this week to discuss climate change and other issues with Ministers, government officials and business representatives.

Senator Wong and Mr Machnig shared perspectives on the state of negotiations for a global climate change agreement, due to be concluded at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009.

"Germany and Australia are both playing an active role to help shape a global solution on climate change," Senator Wong said.

"But we know there is much more to do if we are going to tackle climate change effectively and reach agreement at Copenhagen later this year."

Australia, through the Rudd Government's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS), has the opportunity to reduce carbon pollution from next year, for the first time in our history.

"As we get closer to Copenhagen, the CPRS is critical in demonstrating to the rest of the world that Australia is serious about meeting its commitments to reduce carbon pollution," Senator Wong said.

Senator Wong and Mr Machnig also discussed the opportunities created through a move to low-carbon economies in Australia and Germany.

"In Australia, through the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, the Government is positioning the Australian economy to take advantage of the opportunities that will arise as the world moves to reduce emissions," Senator Wong said.