Al Gore’s Solution to Climate Crisis

On Oct 9, 2023

TL/DR –

The article features former Vice President Al Gore discussing the ongoing climate crisis and potential solutions. Gore argues that a powerful network of political and financial influence, including oil companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron, is obstructing the path to resolving the issue as they condition the political space to continue their fossil fuel production. Despite this, he remains cautiously optimistic, applauding President Biden’s “Inflation Reduction Act”, and suggesting that if we reach a true net zero in fossil-fuel emissions, temperatures will stop rising almost immediately, with half of all human-caused greenhouse-gas pollution falling out of the atmosphere within 25-30 years.

Optimism in the Face of Climate Crisis

Former Vice-President Al Gore keeps faith in the solutions for the climate crisis, despite ongoing extreme weather conditions and discouraging news. He firmly believes in the possibility of a switch that can flip the situation. The issue, Gore explains, lies in the deep-rooted influence networks within political and financial realms that persistently obstruct progress.

Gore points out that the advertisements run by ExxonMobil or Chevron are less about product promotion and more about conditioning the political space to continue their fossil fuel production and sales. This stubbornness of influential corporations complicates the climate crisis.

However, he also notes a parallel issue, what he terms our “democracy crisis”. He expresses concerns about lawmakers who prefer short-term political gain over undeniable data, spending significant time courting lobbyists for campaign finances.

Yet, Gore believes in cautious optimism. He praises President Joe Biden’s legislative achievement, the so-called Inflation Reduction Act, as a landmark step. If we achieve a true net zero in fossil-fuel emissions, Gore assures, the rise in temperatures will halt “almost immediately”. Furthermore, he predicts that half of all human-caused greenhouse gas pollution could dissipate from the atmosphere within as little as twenty-five to thirty years.

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