December 10, 2007
Gore Summons 'Political Will' In Oslo
Al Gore formally accepted his Nobel Peace Prize this morning in Oslo, Norway, delivering the official Nobel lecture to a silent, serious crowd in the opulent city hall. He shared the prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a U.N. group of 3,000 members.
Echoing "An Inconvenient Truth," the documentary that earned him the prize, Gore's speech offered warnings to the world about the effects of global warming. "The Earth has a fever, and the fever is rising," he said.
Gore singled out his own country multiple times, noting that the warming crisis is being "most heavily influenced by two nations that are now doing nothing, the U.S. and China" -- two of the largest carbon-dioxide emitting countries. "Each country should stop using the other's behavior as an excuse for stalemate," he added.
Earlier in the speech, Gore noted, "We have remained largely oblivious to the impact of our cumulative actions. Indeed, without realizing it, we have begun to wage war on the Earth itself," he said. "The penalties for ignoring this challenge are immense and growing."
He also made reference to his own "political obituary," written seven years ago when he lost the presidency to George W. Bush, but said he has embraced his new role -- which would have been impossible had he taken the White House.
Gore turned a hopeful eye to the Bali conference on climate change, calling on leaders to ratify a new global treaty by 2010 and pressing heads of state to meet every three months until a treaty is complete. But he also cautioned against establishing "ideological conformity," arguing that "this new consciousness requires expanding the possibilities inherent in all humanity."
With another indirect reference to his own country, he noted that "we need to put a price on carbon, with a [carbon-dioxide] tax that is then rebated back to the people progressively, according to the laws of each nation."
"Political will is a renewable resource," he concluded, emphasizing the responsibility to future generations. "We will rise, and we will act."
After the speech, CNN newscasters related a relevant anecdote: When Gore and his wife, Tipper, arrived at the Oslo airport, they refused the traditional motorcade and opted for the more environmentally friendly train.
Posted at 9:15 AM
Posted to:
Al Gore, Climate Change
Share via
