Zero: The Climate Race Al Gore: Fossil fuel companies are destabilizing democracy and environment
19 snips
Nov 20, 2025 
Join former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, a climate champion behind initiatives like Climate Trace, for a riveting conversation with Akshat Rathi. Gore highlights the stark influence of fossil fuel companies on democracy and global climate efforts, urging reforms in the COP process. He advocates for scaling climate activism and overcoming financial barriers in developing countries. With optimism, he discusses innovative ways to unlock private capital, while emphasizing the urgency of transparency in emissions reporting. Hope shines through as Gore encourages renewed political will.
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Fix COP Rules To Limit Single-Party Vetoes
- The COP process is crippled by consensus rules that let single countries block progress.
- Al Gore argues the rules and host-selection process must be reformed to reduce fossil-fuel influence.
Fossil Firms Have Hegemonic Policy Power
- Fossil fuel companies dominate policy across sectors, blocking emissions capture efforts.
- Gore calls their political capture the biggest obstacle to climate progress.
How Fossil Money Shaped U.S. Politics
- Gore recounts fossil-fuel funding behind political movements like the Tea Party and Citizens United's effects.
- He links these forces to a broader destabilization of U.S. democracy that hinders climate action.