Washington  - US president-elect Barack Obama met with former vice president and Democratic Party bigwig Al Gore on Tuesday to discuss global warming and energy policy.

Obama welcomed Gore for a private meeting in his hometown of Chicago, Obama's base of operations as he prepares to take office on January 20. His transition team rejected speculation that Gore could be offered a cabinet post.

Gore, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 for his efforts to raise awareness of climate change, has pushed for more domestic action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.

Obama has promised an aggressive effort to cut emissions back in the US and to re-engage in international talks to reduce pollution worldwide.

Obama has also made investments in clean energy a cornerstone of his economic recovery plan as he tries to pull the United States out of a year-long recession.

Gore has said he would rather remain an outside advocate for global warming rather than join Obama's team. The president-elect has yet to name the heads of the US energy and interior departments. (dpa)