SAO PAULO – Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger met Monday with the mayor of Sao Paulo to discuss green energy during a meeting organized by the R20 environmental NGO, founded by the Austrian-American politician, actor, author, philanthropist and professional bodybuilder.

After the meeting behind closed doors, in which the topics of sustainability, green energy and sports were discussed, Sao Paulo Mayor Joao Doria told the press that the Hollywood movie star “is a great motivator for environmental causes.”

“He is building support for a large-scale environmental project for sustainability in cities, for the use of clean energy in public transport, particularly in city buses...as well as for programs that effectively promote reforestation and the expansion of green areas in cities,” Doria said.

The mayor of the largest city not only in Brazil but in all of South America noted that Schwarzenegger “has the strength, prestige and a knowledge of American companies to be able to help us in that way.”

The former California governor was in Brazil to take part in the three-day Arnold Classic South America bodybuilding and sports-nutrition event held in Sao Paulo between last Friday and Sunday.

The sports fest, held for the first time in Sao Paulo after four years in Rio de Janeiro, was up 30 percent in attendance over last year’s show, rang up 100 million reais (some $32 million) and had 10,000 athletes participating in 37 different competitions.

In a tweeted farewell, Schwarzenegger, 69, said he was “honored to meet Mayor Doria to discuss green energy and how proud I am to host @ArnoldSports Fest in his great city.”