THE CLIMATE CRISIS AL GORE
As the U.S. pulls out of the Paris Climate Agreement, the former Vice President and noted environmentalist discusses what's next in the battle against global warming
On June 1 President Donald Trump announced that the United States was withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement, calling it a "bad deal" for the American economy. The move ignited a firestorm of political debate and sparked protests in and outside the U.S. as other governments and some business leaders denounced the decision. In the midst of the controversy, People talked to former Vice President Al Gore, known for his commitment to environmental issues—his upcoming film An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power debuts this summer—about climate change, the Paris accord and how recent events may affect the future of the planet.
What is the Paris Climate Agreement?
The Paris Agreement is a historic commitment by virtually every nation in the world to reduce global-warming pollution to zero in the second half of this century. The agreement is a breakthrough because it allows each nation to choose its own goals and then encourages each nation to exceed those goals. The only countries that did not agree [to join the accord] were Syria and Nicaragua—and now the U.S.
The agreement aims to limit the increase in the average global temperature. Why is that important?
Scientists have long warned us about the dire consequences from heating up the planet. We are putting 110 million tons of global-warming pollution into the atmosphere every 24 hours. The accumulated volume of that heat-trapping pollution now keeps enough extra heat in the earth's system to match what would be released by 400,000 Hiroshima-class atomic bombs exploding every day.
What are the consequences of all that heat?
It's raising temperatures dramatically all around the world. The hottest year ever measured was last year. It's beginning to reduce crop yields. It's creating longer and deeper droughts. More than 90 percent of this extra heat goes into the oceans, which makes ocean-based storms stronger—like Superstorm Sandy in 2012. You don't need to rely on the consensus from the scientific community to see that the climate crisis is real. Mother Nature is telling us, and people are noticing it.
What progress has been made under the Paris Agreement so far?
Both China and India, the two most populous countries in the world, are now on track to beat their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Europe is reducing its emissions. States like California, New York, Washington and others are making faster progress than the commitments made by former President Obama in Paris in 2015. Many U.S. cities are announcing their commitments to go 100 percent renewable in their energy use. A lot of our most successful companies in America—Apple, Google, Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft—are providing leadership to switch over to 100 percent renewable energy, as are thousands of small businesses.
The agreement also aimed to provide financial support to help developing countries switch from fossil fuels to greener sources of energy. What effect has that had?
All over the world we are seeing new jobs in renewable energy and sustainability. Jobs in the solar industry are increasing 17 times faster than other jobs in the U.S. The fastest-growing job of all is a wind turbine technician, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The sustainability revolution is happening all over the world. It has the scope and magnitude of the industrial revolution but the speed of the digital information revolution, and it's changing everything for the better.
How do you think President Trump's decision to leave the agreement will affect the U.S.?
It has isolated the U.S. in the world community, with China trying to step in to become the new leader of the world. Since WWII we have had tremendous benefits in the U.S. from being the leader of the world. But when the rest of the world sits down to improve the Paris Agreement, the U.S. will no longer be able to participate.
The real risk is that other countries will retaliate against the U.S. by trading among themselves and concentrating new jobs in solar and wind in their countries and not in the U.S. And they have the legal right now to put up barriers against U.S. products that don't bear any price for carbon pollution.
What motivates you in this fight?
Honestly, it's a privilege to have work that justifies pouring every ounce of energy you have into it and gives you energy back in return. The stakes are so high for my kids and my grandkids and everybody else that I wouldn't dream of slowing down.
'THE CRISIS IS SERIOUS. WE'RE IN A RACE AGAINST TIME'
—AL GORE
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Jenny Powers, senior director of media and marketing at the Natural Resources Defense Council, suggests steps you can take to help the planet.
Drive Fuel-Efficient
Hybrid and electric cars save both fuel and money. "Depending on where you live, public transportation is an energy-smart option," says Powers. "So is carpooling."
Don't Waste Food
Ten percent of our energy is spent on growing, packaging and shipping our food. "Forty percent of the U.S. food supply is wasted each year," says Powers. "Wasting food wastes water, energy, resources and money."
LED Is Better
LED light bulbs are cheaper, last longer and use 80 percent less energy than regular bulbs.
Get Involved
Call and email your local, state and federal representatives. "Tell them you want solar and wind in your community," says Powers. "It's up to every individual, community and state to make America a clean-energy leader."
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