More than 1000 people aged 15 to 25 have converged on Sydney to learn political strategies for combating climate change, using lessons from US President Barack Obama’s election campaign.

In yesterday’s opening session of the Power Shift 2009 conference at the University of Western Sydney’s Parramatta campus, attendees heard speeches from US climate crusader Al Gore, via video link from Melbourne, actor Brooke Satchwell and NSW Premier Nathan Rees.

“Australia can generate millions of new green-collar jobs and transform itself into a competitive low-carbon economy with a very bright and hopeful future,” Mr Gore said.

He told members of the audience they all had a job to do ahead of climate change talks in Copenhagen in December.

“Together we must encourage leaders throughout the globe to speak on our behalf at the Copenhagen negotiations this December,” he said.

“And we must insist that they negotiate the strongest possible global agreement, to make the deepest possible cuts in global warming pollution emissions.

“Each of you here has a crucial role to play in order to get this done.

“Don’t take the pressure off.

“Australia can generate millions of new green collar jobs and transform itself into a competitive low carbon economy with a very bright and hopeful future.”

Mr Rees was caught without his hard hat when, at the end of his address, audience members stood wearing green hard hats and chanted: “No more coal, renewable energy now!”

Organisers of the Youth Climate Coalition’s first national conference said they knew they would be accused of idealism.

“We’re marching across Facebook, Skype, YouTube and Twitter and connecting with the biggest social movement in history,” an organiser, Amanda McKenzie, said.

The summit ends tomorrow.