In "Moving Beyond Kyoto," Al Gore's Op Ed in today's NY Times, the former Vice President declares
Our home — Earth — is in danger. What is at risk of being destroyed is not the planet itself, but the conditions that have made it hospitable for human beings.
He goes on to explain how higher concentrations of CO2 in our atmosphere are causing this, likening our situation to Venus, noting that the 2nd planet is much farther from the Sun than Mercury but is 3 times hotter due to the Greenhouse Effect.
While describing the magnitude of the crisis and the need to act immediately in no uncertain terms ("the future of all human civilization — is hanging in the balance") Gore ends his call to action on a positive note:
We should focus instead on the opportunities that are part of this challenge. Certainly, there will be new jobs and new profits as corporations move aggressively to capture the enormous economic opportunities offered by a clean energy future.
But there’s something even more precious to be gained if we do the right thing. The climate crisis offers us the chance to experience what few generations in history have had the privilege of experiencing: a generational mission; a compelling moral purpose; a shared cause; and the thrill of being forced by circumstances to put aside the pettiness and conflict of politics and to embrace a genuine moral and spiritual challenge.
Gee, I wonder who's the best person to lead our country -- and the entire free world -- as we face this unprecedented challenge AND the opportunities it will create?...