Gore tells mayors it's time for a new global-warming treaty

[RiverStone]

Source: seattletimes.com

By Warren Cornwall
Seattle Times environment reporter


Former Vice President Al Gore told more than 100 U.S. mayors gathered in Seattle today that the nations of the world should hasten negotiations on a new and ambitious treaty on global warming.

Speaking via satellite from Nashville, Tenn., the recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize also called for a halt to construction of all new coal-fired power plants unless they can be equipped to capture and store the climate-changing gas they spew.

Gore told the conference of mayors that the threat of global warming is too big, and too urgent, to wait until the existing international Kyoto treaty expires in 2012 to begin negotiating a new one.

Noting that some scientists have warned that in just a decade the world's atmosphere could reach a tipping point, Gore said, "We don't want to waste four, five of those 10 years just talking about it."



Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003988312_webgore01m.html

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It sure looks like Al is loving his day job!

[stlsaxman]

1. would love to hear the line that made Gore laugh like that!

oh to be a fly in that conference room...

[IndyOp]

2. I love his green tie! He should stick with that -

whether or not he decides to run for Pres in 2008. Enough of the blue v. red -- we should all go green!

[IndyOp]

3. Sobering: "We've got more than enough [coal] to complete incinerate the planet."

So he suggested halting new coal-fired power plants unless they are set up so that in the future they can quickly be adapted to capture and store greenhouse gas, Gore said.

Coal power has long been a tricky issue for national politicians because they are leery of jeopardizing support from states in the Rocky Mountains, Midwest and East that have abundant coal supplies.

"Coal is in many ways the biggest part of the problem," Gore said. "We've got more than enough to completely incinerate the planet."

:scared: :grr:

[Uncle Joe]

4. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Riverstone.

[RestoreGore]

5. Please go to Bali In December, Mr. Gore...

They need your vision and knowledge on this crisis to broker an historic treaty.

[weeve]

6. I agree

Gore said, "We don't want to waste four, five of those 10 years just talking about it."

And we don't want to waste four, or eight more years with a Clinton or Guiliani as President. We need YOU Mr. Gore to throw your hat into the ring.

[SlowDownFast]

7. Time for our exiled President to come back.

As President.

[rosesaylavee]

8. K & R

Thanks for the post... I bet he has convinced them. I wish more mayors had been present. I think the best way we can approach this crisis is on a local level.

[Ice4Clark]

9. Here's the STREAMING video of VP Gore at the luncheon

Just copy and paste this link in your browser. It's a bit dark, but the content is great.

mms://luxmedia.wmod.llnwd.net/a887/o10/clients/usmayors/Seattle07Day1/7day1_luncheon.wmv

[Ice4Clark]

10. The link above is for the entire luncheon

this webpage will take you to the clip with Al Gore only.

http://www.usmayors.org/climateprotection/video_seattle_1107.asp?seattleday=1&video=7day1_luncheon&starttime=22:38

[Lisa]

11. he lives to tell people about this kind of thing!

I was lucky enough to see him give a talk (without slides this time) a few weeks ago. He spoke for more than an hour, off the cuff, without notes. His knowledge of the subject is tremendous, and his enthusiasm is just incredible. He endeared himself to the audience in "the cheap seats" by insisting on coming down to the overflow room, to address us in person. I saw him up close as he walked in, and will never forget how his face lit up when he saw hundreds of students in the hall.

A light kind of went on for me -- "Wow! Al Gore wants my job!"