Al Gore Wins Peace Prize Re-Dux

FromThe Poughkeepsie Journal:


From losing the presidency to hanging chads in Florida in 2000 to being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Al Gore has shown that tenacity and conviction can pay off.
Sure, some will question whether he should have received such an honor for his work to raise awareness about global warming. The Nobel committee has, indeed, greatly expanded the interpretation of what can constitute the peace prize.
And it's hard not to look at Gore's achievement through a political lens, whether that be through his own comeback, what it may mean to the 2008 presidential race and what it says about the Bush administration.

Those provocative topics shouldn't detract from the main point being made by scientists worldwide: A recent study by scientists from more than 100 countries says, with more than 90 percent certainty, global warming is caused by the burning of fossil fuels. They cite increases in weather fluctuations. They say hotter temperatures and rising sea levels will occur regardless of what people do at this point, but they believe people can mitigate the impact, if better policies are put in place now. This is no small matter for the U.S., which generates about 25 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. Yet the Bush administration has opted to rely on voluntary controls by industry. Meanwhile, an international treaty designed to reduce global warming has gone into effect without U.S. participation.

In Washington, global warming seemingly pits Democrats against Republicans, but state leaders, at least, know better. Former Gov. George Pataki, a Republican, led the effort for a regional agreement among states, and his successor, Democrat Eliot Spitzer, has deemed global warming the most important environmental issue facing this generation. As such, New York has joined with more than a half-dozen states to start the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which will mandate cuts in certain emissions from power plants.

Still, a federal solution is imperative. At a minimum, he can continue to prod the crowded field of Republican and Democratic candidates to spell out their plans to confront global warming.
Left for dead politically in 2000, Gore has made the classic American comeback. He brings with it talk of a profoundly serious issue facing the country and world. That is something to admire, his detractors notwithstanding.


©The Record 2007