The US faces a “Manichaean choice” over climate action in the presidential election, according to former vice-president Al Gore. He joins scientists and green business leaders in warning that a Donald Trump victory “would be very bad.” Gore, who won an Oscar and Nobel Peace Prize for his 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth on global warming, said that voters who cared about climate change faced the “clearest choice ever” at the November election. Climate change has not been a prominent topic in the contest between Kamala Harris and Trump, but Gore believes their respective policy positions are evident.
Gore argues that most climate activists in the United States believe that choosing the next president is crucial for addressing climate change. Despite his strong views about the consequences of a Trump election, he also believes that the shift to a cleaner economy is unstoppable at this point. However, he emphasizes that how fast this transition can occur will be affected by who becomes the next president of the United States.
Speaking as Generation Investment Management published its eighth Sustainability Trends Report, Gore highlights increasingly fraught geopolitics between China and the West. He acknowledges China’s remarkable progress in renewable energy but predicts rising tensions due to its authoritarian approach and developed countries’ desire to protect their industries from unfair practices.
The report found that $2 is now being invested in clean energy for every dollar going into fossil fuels. Solar panel installation saw a 74% surge last year; however, it noted that the buildings sector is not on track to meet greenhouse gas emissions cuts needed by 2030.
Gore remains optimistic overall but expresses concern about the pace of progress. He criticizes governments captive to fossil fuel industries and their efforts to block positive changes while seeking expanded subsidies for fossil fuels.
Despite these challenges, Gore believes there will come a time when it becomes progressively harder for fossil fuel companies to require political and financial allies to subsidize them further. He plans to attend UN COP29 climate summit after US elections.
