FOLLOW US

Climate change is a hotly debated issue, no pun intended. No matter which side of the fence you’re on, it’s something that can’t be ignored both physically and on a political level. We’re forced to deal with a slew of information, some of which borders on apocalyptic, with regards to the world’s changing climate and how it will affect humanity, the economy, and future generations, on a daily basis.

But is all the panic warranted? Are the predictions of mass destruction from certain political figures based on fact? Or are they blown out of proportion to suit an agenda? Take a look at the most prevalent political icon known for his strong opinion on climate change and global warming.

In 2006 ex-vice president Al Gore starred in a badly disguised political campaign of a movie, An Inconvenient Truth, which followed him on a journey to ‘educate’ the masses on the threat of global warming and climate change.

While his pursuit seems noble – we should all concern ourselves with planet Earth and its workings – it is ultimately motivated by financial and political gain. Take for example the fact that a high court judge found nine scientific errors within the film itself, some of which were framed in “the context of alarmism and exaggeration.”

As of October 2006, An Inconvenient Truth has grossed more than $23 million at the Box Office, and Al Gore himself continues to profit off his views on climate change. There’s an important distinction to make between altruism and agenda. Though he promised proceeds from his book and documentary toward the Climate Reality Project, for instance, he reeled in about $175,000 per public appearance. He became a multimillionaire within two years of producing the film.

Al Gore could make a large profit from a firm producing smart meters for monitoring household electricity usage.

This is just one example of how a topic, an important one, can be taken and twisted to an individual’s political and financial advantage. It’s important to consider the source when discussing an issue as contentious as climate change.

This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t focus on reducing energy consumption and our carbon footprint. But, we must do so without the fanaticism purported by global warming ‘enthusiasts.’

Factually speaking, a professor of atmospheric science at the Earth System Science Center at the University of Alabama Huntsville analyzed 73 UN computer models and predictions for global warming, and found that corresponding datasets over the last 17 years show no warming.