The former chief executive of the Australian Conservation Foundation has confirmed he was behind the meeting between Clive Palmer and former US vice-president Al Gore.

Don Henry and a former senior Greens staffer were involved in setting up the deal between the billionaire miner and Mr Gore, one of the world's most high profile climate change activists.

The meeting culminated in a joint press conference on Wednesday, where Mr Palmer declared Mr Gore had convinced him to change his stance on climate change policy.

Mr Palmer had previously campaigned against the carbon tax, but said he would only back the repeal of the tax if savings to consumers could be guaranteed.

Speaking beside Mr Gore, Mr Palmer also vowed to stop the Government axing key climate change bodies.

Mr Henry says Mr Gore asked him for the names of important figures to meet during his trip to Australia.

"He asked for my advice on who may be important to meet with in Australia and I suggested Clive Palmer to him," he told The World Today.

"I thought it would be good for Clive Palmer to hear first hand from one of the world's leading experts and committed people on climate action.

"He offered to meet Mr Palmer if Mr Palmer would take out that invitation. He knew Mr Palmer had new senators coming into the Parliament and he wanted to talk to him."

Mr Henry says he did not expect Mr Palmer to say yes to the meeting.

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"I was pleasantly surprised when he agreed with some considerable interest to have a meeting and I know that Mr Gore appreciated that Mr Palmer wanted to have a meeting," he said.

After meeting, Mr Gore and Mr Palmer came to an agreement on a number of issues, but Mr Henry says Mr Gore was also disappointed on some issues.

"[Mr Palmer] doesn't have Al Gore's blessing to axe the carbon price. Mr Gore's been very clear in saying he will be disappointed if that happens," Mr Henry said.

"What Mr Gore was encouraged by was Mr Palmer and his party and his senators' commitment to the renewable energy target, Clean Energy Finance Corporation and the Climate Change Authority.

"Mr Gore did his best to convince Mr Palmer of the importance of holding onto an emissions trading scheme."

Greens play down ex-staffer's role in meeting

Former senior Greens staffer Ben Oquist was also involved in setting up the deal - a role the party's leader Christine Milne has played down.

Mr Oquist quit Senator Milne's office last year over fundamental differences of opinion but she says she is more concerned about fixing climate change policy.

"I can only assume they thought they were delivering a good outcome and they have in terms of the renewable energy target," she said.

Mr Oquist has not yet spoken publicly about his role in the meeting, but Mr Henry says Mr Gore is pleased with the outcome.

"Mr Gore's called it straight up and down; he's given credit where credit is due. There are very important pieces of Australia's climate laws that are now going to be, well, appear as though they will be saved," he said.

"There is a live debate on an emissions trading scheme and Mr Gore's clearly given his view that he will be disappointed if we lose the existing carbon price.

"And that's now a debate and discussion we have to pick up as Australians and our senators need to pay attention to."

Liberal MP Dennis Jensen says Mr Gore has lost all credibility by joining forces with Mr Palmer.

"Gore will take money for anything," he told Parliament.

"Everything Al Gore does is with a view to profit him directly or to benefit him in some way."

Mr Palmer has stressed that he did not pay Mr Gore - whose international speaking fee begins at $150,000 - to attend the announcement.

"He came here for the air. I did buy him dinner I think when he got here and said I was happy to meet with him," Mr Palmer said.

"Al Gore's a person of great integrity and he's got an excellent reputation. It challenges the concept of journalists themselves to see me and Al Gore together

"Is it so bad that two people talk try to get a resolution?"