Al Gore’s book offers solutions to climate change

Gore maintains that in a market economy, every one of the solutions to climate crisis will be more effective and much easier to implement if a price is placed on CO2 and other global warming pollutants.

Gore likens the current sub-prime mortgage crisis to the one we will face if we continue making investments in sub-prime carbon assets.

“We have got to tell ourselves the truth about the economic impact of pollution, and we have to measure it,” said Gore.

“The bottom line is that business and markets cannot operate in isolation from society and the environment –we need “sustainable capitalism.”

Gore argues that one of America’s most challenging obstacles to overcoming the climate crisis is the country’s political culture.

He examines how political impediments have stood in the way of progress and turned global warming into a partisan issue.

Misinformation blitz

These include the use of lavishly financed misinformation campaigns aimed at misleading the public about the true nature and severity of the climate crisis —a technique pioneered by tobacco companies —as well as the proliferation of media outlets who suggest a false symmetry between scientific understanding and political opinion. Despite the many roadblocks, there is also promise.

“In Our Choice, Vice-President Al Gore makes clear that we have the tools we need to implement change. He also makes it clear that we have no time to lose. Rodale is honoured to be working wit Gore to spread the urgent message,” said Rodale Chairman and CEO, Maria Rodale. “The security crisis, economic crisis and climate crisis seem unsolvable in isolation — but a closer look reveals a common thread running through them: society’s dangerous over-reliance on carbon-based fuels. It is at the core of all these and many other challenges,” said Gore.

With Our choice, Al Gore has provided an invaluable roadmap for real change. All we need do is start the journey.