The Australian Government will work towards international agreement on climate change action at the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate in Rome, Italy.

Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Penny Wong, will depart tonight to represent Australia at the seventh meeting of the Major Economies Forum.

Senator Wong said the meeting – to be held on June 30 and July 1 - presented an opportunity for further international action on climate change.

“The Major Economies Forum brings together Ministers from the most influential countries in the international climate change negotiations, including the US, China, India, the European Union, South Africa, Brazil and Indonesia,” Senator Wong said.

“It plays an influential role in advancing key issues in the negotiations.”

Issues to be discussed at the Rome meeting include the framework all countries will use to report on their national actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation action and priorities to progress negotiations in the lead up to the UN climate change conference in Cancun, Mexico.

Senator Wong will also hold bilateral discussions with a range of senior counterparts from MEF countries, including Xie Zhenhua, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission in China and Todd Stern, the US Special Envoy for Climate Change.

“Australia will be seeking to identify areas where we can work closely with other countries to deliver a robust post-2012 outcome on climate change,’’ Senator Wong said.