Al Gore, the former Vice-President of the U.S., and the almost President, has earned an Academy Award for the film “An Inconvenient Truth,” and also a Nobel Peace Prize – both for his efforts towards addressing the issue and spreading the word regarding climate change.
His message in “An Inconvenient Truth” was dire, in that he unequivocally stated that we have to address the issue of climate change, and soon, or the warming of the planet could destroy all of us.
In a recent TED talk that is shown above, Gore talked about the destruction climate change has caused in recent years, from typhoons in the Philippines to historic downpours in Houston to floods in Spain to unprecedented wildfires in North America. “Every night on the TV news now is like a nature hike through the Book of Revelations,” he said half jokingly.
Despite all of this, Gore is optimistic. The reason: he realizes the Revolution is here.
Specifically, the main source of his optimism is renewable energy. The cost of renewable energy is dropping, Gore points out, while availability is increasing exponentially and far more rapidly than projected.
Take Germany, which has greatly increased its use of solar and wind power in the past several years. On Dec. 26, 2015, over 80 percent of all power generated in that country came from renewables, according to Gore. That’s a huge accomplishment, and one Gore sees continuing. And it’s not just the industrialized world: Parts of the planet that until now have never been electrified are seeing successful pay-as-you-go solar systems, in places like Bangladesh and South Sudan.
And it’s not just developed nations are that doing this. Every minute in Bangladesh, two more homes get new rooftop solar panels. And Dubai’s state utility accepted a bid for a solar power plant with a cost per kilowatt-hour of less than six cents.
In addition, Al Gore also understands the relationship between diet and climate change – the consumption of animal food is the number one cause of climate change. Al Gore has put his money where his mouth is, and for the last three years he’s been eating a vegan diet.
In late November 2006, the U.N Food and Agriculture Organization issued a report stating that the livestock business generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all forms of transportation combined, while the Worldwatch Institute has stated that 51 percent or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture.
The future is winnable, Al Gore says. The only question is, are we willing to do it? As Gore says, “The will to act is a renewable resource.”
We have such incredible capacity to use our power of yes to bring forth a new world. This is the Revolution, and it is happening. We need to act, and we are doing it.
Al Gore is optimistic and gives good reason to believe. We all can be optimistic, because there is good reason to believe. It is called the power of the human mind and the power of the indomitable spirit to create the new, to innovate, to vision, to see what is emerging.
And it all stems from the yes.
Yes equals an open future, and an open future is the hope of the future.
Have you read Michael Wayne’s new book “The Quantum Revolution: The Power to Transform?” If you haven’t, you owe it to yourself to do so, as it’s a book that promises to help ignite the movement that is sweeping our society and world, a movement that can usher in a more holistic, sustainable and enlightened world. Go to this link to get your copy now!: The Quantum Revolution: The Power to Transform