Final Project- Al Gore's "Climate Emergency."

Al Gore, a politician and environmental activist gave a speech in April 2004 at Yale University called, “The Climate Emergency,” which argued that there was an immediate need for a change in the rapid decline of our climate and environment at the hand of human actions. Through facts, statistics and appeals to his audience’s emotions, Gore shows that as a result of extreme climate conditions, our environment has taken a turn for the worse. Al Gore wanted to illustrate leading causes of negative climate change through the use of our rising population, new technology, and our way of thinking in order to prove that it is because of human action that we haven’t found a solution to this climate emergency.  Gore’s educated audience at Yale University included fellow politicians, environmentalists, scientists, and most importantly, concerned everyday people.

Al Gore uses informative terminology, concise evidence and descriptive graphs to show the results of global warming on our environment. When first introducing the term, ‘climate emergency’, Gore states, “The phrase ‘climate emergency’ is intended to convey what it conveys- that this is a crisis with an unusual sense of urgency attached to it, and we should see it as an emergency.”(Gore, 456)  By addressing his concerns from the very beginning, Al Gore creates a foundation for the rest of his speech.

The environmental activist discusses the reasons for the rapid deterioration of our environment. Gore describes the process called the ‘greenhouse effect’ which causes the increased temperatures that have resulted in our climate change.  Al Gore also uses a graph to demonstrate the increase of carbon dioxide concentration in the air we breathe. (Gore, 457) This not only affects the living things that breathe this harmful air in, but it also affects crops and food products that we grow. In addition, Gore uses a picture of the sun and its rays shining down on an ice cap. The picture continually splits to show what will happen when the sun’s heat causes all of the ice caps to melt. (Gore, 459)

In addition to addressing the impact of global warming on our climate, Al Gore also recognizes the influence of the ‘climate emergency’ on our culture.  In his speech, Al Gore states,

The trend is very clear. What’s behind it all? I’ve come to believe that global warming, the disappearance of the ocean fisheries, the destruction of the rain forests, the stratospheric ozone depletion problem, the extinction crisis, all of these are really symptoms of an underlying cause. The underlying cause is a collision between our civilization and the earth. The relationship between the human species and our planet has been completely changed. All of our culture, all of our literature, all of our history, everything we’ve learned, was premised on one relationship between the earth and us, and now we have a different one. (Gore, 460)

This quote explains what Al Gore finds the real cause of global warming to be. In the beginning of the world, when human beings inhabited the earth, there were deeper concerns and much more attention placed on the care and protection of our planet.  The foundation of our education and what we have come to believe about the earth is currently changing and human beings now have a different relationship with the earth.

Our relationship with the earth has changed, but at what cost? The previous quote which discusses the differences in how human beings view the earth is directly caused by certain cultural factors. Al Gore addresses three leading causes of the deterioration of the human species relationship with the earth.  The first reason is the increased population and its rapid growth. Gore states, “Most importantly, however, the increase in population of developing nations is driving food demand, water demand, and energy demand, creating intense pressures on human resources.” (Gore, 460) Because of the increased demand, our supply of resources has declined.

The politician and environmental activist states the second cause of this new relationship with our planet to be technology. Gore addresses the new power that technology has when he says,

There are a lot of great things that have come out of this, but when we don’t examine habits that have persisted for a long time, and then use the same habits with new technology and don’t take into account the new power that we have, then the consequence can get away from us. (Gore, 461)

The new abilities that technology presents us come with responsibility. Al Gore believes we must always be aware of negative consequences that can occur as a result of technology, including his example of nuclear warfare.

Al Gore states the final factor to be the way in which we think. Human beings have chosen to view global warming as a slow and eventual problem. (Gore, 461)  Gore reminds us that the changes in our planet are happening a lot quicker then we think. Even if there are not direct problems that affect us, deteriorating climate conditions can change the way in which future generations live.

Even though Al Gore’s argument has been addressed by environmental activists and researchers previously, his speech, “The Climate Emergency” still had a deep effect on me.  The combination of text, facts and graphics made it much easier to see and understand the reasons for being in a ‘climate emergency.’  The aspect that struck me the most was that the changes that are happening to our environment are occurring a lot faster that I had previously thought. It is easy to think that issues like population growth and technology have a tremendous impact on the environment. But looking at my own way of thinking, I understand Gore’s argument.

After reading “The Climate Emergency”, I started to put some of Al Gore’s theories into practice. I learned about my carbon footprint, both from reading the speech and discussions we have had in class. Remembering to turn your lights off when you leave a room or turning off the faucet when you are brushing your teeth really does make a difference. Knowing that I am at least trying my best to do my part makes me feel a sense of accomplishment.

Al Gore’s view of negative uses of technology and the power it has is also very startling. I have always viewed nuclear weapons to be a disastrous thing. But learning what it takes to make the weapons and what precedents they set for the future alters your views. However, learning about the power of technology also made me think that maybe there is a way for technology to be used for good. If we could create technology that helped manage our natural resources or control levels of carbon dioxide in the air, then we could monitor the environment more closely and try and have a more positive impact on the environment.

Nothing that Al Gore said should ever be ignored. After discovering the effects that human beings have on the environment and the change in the relationship we have with our planet, it would be hard to continue forward in ignorance. We are in a ‘climate emergency’ but it is up to the people of earth to make positive steps in the right direction and repair our relationship with mother earth.

Gore, Al. "The Climate Emergency." Yale University, New Haven, CT.  Apr. 2004. Speech.