A Scottish Conservative MEP has been appointed as an adviser at a US think tank set up by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ian Duncan will join the board of advisers at the Schwarzenegger Institute, based at the University of Southern California. His brief will cover energy policy and climate change.

Former California governor Schwarzenegger founded the cross-party think tank in 2012 to bring together international experts to help tackle global policy challenges.

The appointment comes after Schwarzenegger met Duncan at the UN Climate Change Conference in Paris last December, when they discussed market-based solutions to global warming.

Duncan is the European Parliament's lead lawmaker on reform of the EU emissions trading scheme.

He said: "I am honoured to be asked to serve on the board of advisers to the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.

"The institute has an impressive track record and I look forward to exploring solutions to the challenges presented by a warming planet, energy poverty and our ongoing dependence upon fossil fuels."

The institute's global director Bonnie Reiss said: "We are honoured to have Ian join our board of advisers.

"Ian's experience and global perspective on policy and climate change, and many other critical issues, will bring great value to our work."

Schwarzenegger was the governor of California responsible for introducing the state's carbon cap and trade system in 2012, which aims to incentivise businesses to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.