We'll stop climate change, but 'how soon' is the life-and-death question - Al Gore
Feb 13, 2025
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Al Gore, former U.S. vice president and tireless climate campaigner, brings his optimism about tackling climate change despite alarming global temperatures. He discusses his Climate TRACE initiative, which uses AI to track greenhouse gas emissions globally, emphasizing its role in improving public health. Gore also highlights the hidden dangers of landfill emissions and advocates for corporate responsibility and local leadership in the shift to renewable energy. His call for urgent action is a powerful reminder of our interconnected challenges.
Al Gore emphasizes that advancements in green technologies provide viable solutions to combat climate change and stimulate job creation in clean energy.
The launch of Climate TRACE represents a significant step towards enhancing accountability in climate action by accurately measuring global greenhouse gas emissions.
Deep dives
Urgency of Climate Action
The climate crisis is largely driven by the fossil fuel industry, which accounts for 80% of global emissions. Despite recent political setbacks, such as the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, advancements in green technologies have made alternative energy sources more viable and cost-effective. The transition away from fossil fuels is not only necessary for environmental reasons, but it also presents a significant economic opportunity by creating new jobs in clean energy sectors. Ignoring the urgency of this situation risks exacerbating extreme weather events that are increasingly impacting communities worldwide.
Momentum in Renewable Energy
The renewable energy sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 87% of new electricity generation installations globally being sourced from renewables. This shift is impacting traditional markets like electricity and mobility, as electric vehicles gain traction and the demand for cleaner energy solutions increases. Fossil fuel companies are struggling to maintain their dominance amidst this transformation, as public sentiment shifts towards sustainable practices fueled by younger generations who value corporate responsibility. The inevitability of this transition suggests that the momentum toward clean energy is now unstoppable.
Role of Innovation and Measurement
The creation of Climate Trace, an initiative leveraging artificial intelligence and data collection, aims to precisely measure greenhouse gas emissions from various sources, enhancing accountability in climate action. This platform provides detailed insights into emission contributions from every nation and major city, allowing for targeted strategies to curb pollution effectively. The data reveals that landfill methane emissions significantly exceed those from many industrial sectors, highlighting areas for impactful intervention. By understanding and measuring emissions more accurately, policymakers and businesses can develop cost-effective solutions to mitigate climate change.
As the world record's it's highest ever average global temperatures, and the US, once again, quits the UN climate change pact, Al Gore is surprisingly upbeat on humanity's ability to tackle global warming. He spoke to Radio Davos at the Annual Meeting, where he presented a new system that tracks greenhouse gas emissions around the world, Climate TRACE. Links: Global Risks Report 2025: Climate TRACE: Climate and Health Initiative: Centre for Nature and Climate: Related podcasts: : : : Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts: YouTube: - Radio Davos - subscribe: Meet the Leader - subscribe: Agenda Dialogues - subscribe: Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club:
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