Nov

Al Gore and David Letterman – An Eco-friendly Master Class Part 2

al-gore We continue with Al Gore’s recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, to promote his latest book Our Choice: A Plan to Solve the Global Climate Crisis, which turned into an eco-friendly master class on the subject. In our first installment we explored their conversation on the status of the Ozone layer, the next topic of conversation is climate change.

Letterman asked, what Gore believed would happen if we simply ignored climate change? Basically and tragically, the former vice-president said that it could end civilization on earth, as we know it. Gore gave an eco-friendly explanation that humans need a narrow climate balance to live, if we wreck it, it would create a hostile environment in which humans could not survive. So what is the narrow temperature range that our species needs to flourish? The going consensus is a 2-degree centigrade increase would be safe. In fact we have incurred a much smaller change and the polar ice caps are melting, so who in fact was it that deemed this increase safe? This was an eco-friendly compromise between what politicians can achieve and what the scientists believe, so this 2 degrees centigrade is not a completely scientific number.

Gore stressed the fact that humans cannot adapt to the unrestrained effects of global warming as already we are seeing those that are forced to adapt to the current environmental changes around the world. Specific examples were given in this interview; they included the fact that those living near the Nile Delta are less than 1 meter above sea level due to the rising water levels. Another example was the Maldives, who recently held a cabinet meeting under water to help draw media attention to their environmental plight.

The BBC, best explained the stunt “President Mohamed Nasheed and his cabinet signed a document calling for global cuts in carbon emissions. Ministers spent half an hour on the seabed, communicating with white boards and hand signals. The president said the UN climate change conference in Copenhagen this December cannot be allowed to fail. At a later press conference while still in the water, President Nasheed was asked what would happen if the summit fails. “We are going to die,” he replied. The Maldives stand an average of 2.1 meters (7ft) above sea level, and the government says they face being wiped out if oceans rise. “We’re now actually trying to send our message, let the world know what is happening, and what will happen to the [us] if climate change is not checked,” President Nasheed said. “If the Maldives cannot be saved today we do not feel that there is much of a chance for the rest of the world,” he added”. The Maldives’ cabinet’s bold move is indicative of the growing political will Gore spoke of.

He informed the viewers that the environmental movement is the largest grass root effort in history, and the political pressure is rising; however, it still needs to reach critical mass so all political leaders listen. By disseminating this information to the masses via a late night talk show Gore is getting his message out to those that might otherwise ignore these startling realties. The former V.P. understands his audience and thus gives an eco-friendly perspective that is not all doom and gloom. Kudos Mr. Gore.

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