may follow example of Al Gore and go into environmentalism after office

The US President had invited British naturalist Sir David Attenborough for

Barack Obama could be set to follow in the footsteps of former Vice President turned environmentalist Al Gore when he leaves office, a veteran naturalist has claimed.

The US President showed his commitment to tackling climate change during a private audience with British TV presenter Sir David Attenborough.

Sir David said he had come away from the meeting feeling that Obama was 'very much in favour of dealing with climate change' but got the sense he was 'wondering what he's going to do next'.

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Barack Obama (left) could be set to follow in the footsteps of former Vice President turned environmentalist Al Gore (right) when he leaves office, it has been revealed

Obama is currently in his second and final term of office which will come to an end in January 2017.

Veteran documentary maker Sir David believes the president may follow the example of Al Gore who received a Nobel Peace Prize for his work tackling climate change after he stepped down from office under President Clinton.

'Vice-presidents have done it so why shouldn't presidents,' he said.

Former Vice President Al Gore had been involved with environmental issues since the 1970s.

But after losing out to George Bush as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate in the 2000, he decided to leave politics to become an environmental activist.

He went on to found a number of non-profit organisations including the Alliance for Climate Protection and received a Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his work in climate change.

Sir David said he had been 'astonished' to receive the invitation to Washington, which came about after Obama heard about his award-winning series Rise of Animals: Triumph of Vertebrates that aired in the States last month.

The half hour meeting was held in the Blue Room of the White House where he and Obama discussed climate change and conservation.

The US President showed his commitment to tacklin climate change during a private audience with veteran naturalist Sir David Attenborough

Sir David said: 'He wanted to make it clear that he was not a philistine in this matter.

'He is on the side of the natural world and that's what he wanted to be clear.

'And that's against some very powerful voices that are in the US which are not in favour of the natural world.'

Sir David added that he was convinced the President was committed to the cause but added that 'of course, as we also know, he is coming to the end of his last Presidency'.

Just last month, at the Coast Guard Academy commencement, Obama pledged to tackle climate change which he called 'one of the most severe threats' to America and 'an immediate risk to our national security'

The 89-year-old TV presenter added that the meeting with one of the most powerful men in the world was a 'great privilege' but admitted he was still 'truly baffled' as to why the President wanted to meet him.

'He invited me to go to Washington. He sent me a ticket. I was astonished, I don't understand it.'

He added that Obama told him he was a fan and enjoyed watching his wildlife documentaries.