That ladder is not for everybody. But we have decided to become carbon neutral, which means we reduce CO2 [carbon dioxide, a gas that contributes to warming in the atmosphere] to the maximum and then purchase offsets to offset the remainder with reductions in CO2 elsewhere.
What offsetting CO2 really means is—first of all, the strategy of becoming carbon neutral involves reducing your CO2 as much as you possibly can. We give you a carbon calculator on [the An Inconvenient Truth Web site] that shows you how to do that.
But then for the remainder [of the CO2 you emit], the offsets can be purchased in the form of planting trees, or you can plant them yourself, or you can join a carbon exchange [such as NativeEnergy], where there are many projects funded that are audited and verified.
There are also companies that are now selling offsets in a reliable audited way—such things as the purchase of solar cookers that replace dirty kerosene burners in India.
I imagine you're offered your fair share of limo rides and jet travel—and probably not the hybrid kind. How much tougher does being a public figure make that challenge to live a green lifestyle?
Well, I've actually—my staff has helped me with this, of course—but we've actually found some car services when I go to other cities that use hybrids and biodiesel vehicles. [Related: "Natural Gas-Powered Limos Are Hollywood Hit" (April 19, 2004).]
I'm under no illusions about how big an impact one person can make. But I do think that if all of us begin to make these changes, it adds up. And it begins to stimulate the emergence of a new marketplace, in which there is a business advantage in reaching out to consumers who want to be environmentally responsible.
Did you ever think that you'd be starring in a summer blockbuster?
Never in my wildest dreams. And never would I have imagined walking on the red carpet at Cannes [film festival].
But I'm old enough to know that a red carpet's just a rug, and I've been able to enjoy the pageantry without letting it go to my head.
I see myself in the mold of Rin Tin Tin. It didn't go to his head either.
The impressive whorl of Hurricane Katrina is of course the signature image on the film. It's on the poster, the DVD cover. And 2005 was just a staggering year for storms. And in your film you cited the biggies—Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Rita, and so on—suggesting a connection of some kind to global warming.
But given the relatively calm Atlantic hurricane season this year, what do you say to those National Geographic readers and listeners who say, Well, Al, where's your global warming now?
Well, there have been strong hurricanes and cyclones and typhoons in other parts of the world this year. The strongest in at least 50 years hit China just a short time ago. I mentioned that I just returned from Australia, where a huge cyclone, Cyclone Larry, had a harsh impact.
There is natural variability in the year-to-year occurrence of these ocean-based storms in particular locations, but the overall trend is very clear. And while there's no consensus as yet linking global warming with the frequency of hurricanes, there is a very strong emerging consensus that links global warming with the strength and intensity of hurricanes when they do occur. [See "Warming Was Top Factor in 2005 Hurricanes, New Data Says" (June 28, 2006).]
And the fact that we had so many Category Five hurricanes in the last several years—while none of them can be attributed solely to global warming, the scientists are insisting that we understand that the odds of having these stronger storms increases with global warming.
2005 was the hottest year ever measured, and the 12 months ending this past summer, June of 2006, was the hottest 12-month period ever measured in the United States of America.
So these extreme weather events around the world are in keeping with what the scientists have long predicted.
[Related: "Global Warming Link to Hurricane Intensity Questioned" (July 28, 2006).]
Do you think that we are maybe past the point of no return, as some climate scientists do—that the best we can do is try to buy ourselves a little bit of time, maybe develop new technologies to help us adapt to the world that's about to come? Or do you believe we can sort of turn the clock back, so to speak?
Well, it is not too late to solve this crisis, and solving it means avoiding the worst of the consequences and arresting this trend toward catastrophe. But it's true that some changes have already taken place, and others will take place, because of the heat that's already been stored up in the oceans of the world and will be slowly released in coming decades. [See "Global Warming Unstoppable for 100 Years, Study Says" (March 17, 2005).]
But the essence of the challenge we face is not just to adapt to the changes that have occurred. … There's no way to adapt in the long run to an unrestrained dumping of all this global warming pollution, because the changes, if not confronted and responded to, would threaten [to bring about] the end of civilization itself.
We have to stop dumping 70 million tons [64 million metric tons] of global warming pollution every single day into the Earth's atmosphere.
Well, let's bring it down to a more human scale. What about concrete steps that people can take to fight global warming? We get National Geographic readers and listeners writing in about this all the time.
For example, Shon from Utah writes, "I don't have a lot of money, nor do I have the political power to make much change. But this is such a big issue to me, but I feel helpless." So what would you say to Shon?
Well, first of all, learn about it, and learn as much as you can. Get the DVD, buy the [An Inconvenient Truth] book.
All the profits that would go to us—my wife and I are donating 100 percent of them to a continuing bipartisan educational campaign. If you get the DVD and/or the book, you will find the solutions available to you that you can make in your own life.
And when you empower yourself with knowledge, you will be more confident in becoming active politically, regardless of what party you're in, to demand that the candidates start solving this crisis.
What would you say is a good first step and an easy first step for someone like Shon?
Just to take a few quick examples of easy steps; buy the new [CFL] lightbulbs. They're much more efficient; you don't have to change them nearly as often. They use much less electricity, and they save you money on your utility bills.
Consider a clock thermostat, and set it so that you're not using energy when you don't need it, when you're out of your house.
Consider what kind of car you get. Buy cars and other products that have the least impact environmentally. If you can afford a hybrid, consider that. [Related interactive feature: how hydrogen cars work.]
And then if you want to go all the way, consider becoming carbon neutral, and the DVD and the book will tell you how you can do that. It's not as hard as it might sound. You can reduce your CO2 to a minimum, and then purchase offsets to take care of the rest.
Now, Shon says he doesn't have the political power to make much change, but you do. Mr. Gore, are you even remotely tempted to run for President in 2008?
Well, I think when enough individuals do change their minds, it will have a profound impact on the political environment, and that's the kind of campaign I'm involved in—to try to change the way people think about this so that the candidates who do run will encounter voters in both parties who demand a solution.
But have you ever—
I am not considering becoming a candidate again, but I'm going to concentrate on changing people's minds.
What if Shon and others like him say to you, But our country needs you?
Well, I'm grateful for that encouragement and for the expression of confidence. And while I haven't ruled out considering a race at some point in the future, I really don't expect to, because I've done it twice.
I've learned the importance of changing people's minds at the grassroots level so that whoever does run will have a much better chance of encountering public opinion that reaches a critical mass and brings about a change not only in White House policies but in the Congress and in the state legislatures and all around the world.
As we all know, the Democrats will soon have the majority [in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate]. How big a deal is this really in the scheme of things? And how much personal faith do you have in these people when it comes to the state of the planet?
I have a lot of confidence that they will make a big difference, and I'll give you one quick example.
Currently the Senate environment committee is chaired by James Inhofe of Oklahoma, who's one of the leading skeptics, he's called [global warming] the greatest hoax in [U.S.] history.
He's going to be replaced by the voters come January with Senator Barbara Boxer from California, who's one of the leading proponents of solving [global warming]. And that's just one example among many I could cite where new leadership and the committees of the Congress, and in the Congress itself, bring us a new source of hope that the political system will start responding.
Because here at National Geographic we always save the important stuff for last: [nationalgeograhic.com reader George in North Carolina asks,] What's up with that clean-shaven look, Mr. Gore? Are you planning to grow your beard back?
Well, Tipper liked it. But you know, it's been several years now since I shaved off the beard. But I'll take your comments under advisement. You know, that could have a big impact.
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