There is some international "head scratching" over Australia's national position on climate change, says former United States vice-president Al Gore, who has used his short visit to Melbourne to paint a bullish picture of the economic benefits of renewable energy and the prospects of this year's Paris climate summit.

On Monday Mr Gore met state government ministers from Victoria, Queensland and South Australia, telling media afterwards that he had been impressed by work they were doing in moving to address climate change.

But he was more circumspect when asked about the national picture and the Abbott government's decision to scrap the carbon price.

While keen to avoid overt criticism, Mr Gore – a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and one of the world's most prominent climate campaigners – said Australia was viewed by many globally as a leader in the "community of nations".