An Inconvenient Decision

Donald Trump withdrawing from the Paris Agreement dealt a major blow to combating the irrefutable reality of climate change. Given that the U.S. is the world's largest economy and the second-largest producer of greenhouse gases, it will set progress back significantly. Shocking figures and statistics — like sea levels

Shocking figures and statistics — like sea levels rising faster than previously thought and rivers drying up in a matter of days — are reported terrifyingly frequently: therefore, keeping climate change in the public eye, maintaining debate concerning it, and informing people of its cost despite the White House's stance is vital.

Al Gore giving his updated presentation in Houston, TX in An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power from Paramount Pictures and Participant Media.

Al Gore, former Vice President and world-famous climate change campaigner, responded to the news by stating:

Removing the United States from the Paris Agreement is a reckless and indefensible action. It undermines America’s standing in the world and threatens to damage humanity’s ability to solve the climate crisis in time. But make no mistake: if President Trump won’t lead, the American people will.

Civic leaders, mayors, governors, CEOs, investors, and the majority of the business community will take up this challenge. We are in the middle of a clean energy revolution that no single person or group can stop. President Trump’s decision is profoundly in conflict with what the majority of Americans want from our president; but no matter what he does, we will ensure that our inevitable transition to a clean energy economy continues.

Gore's stress on collective action has proven valid: states, companies, and individuals have rallied to show their support for the Paris Agreement. Apple, Elon Musk, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, among many, many others, have all said words to the effect of, as Tim Cook said in an email to all employees, "We will never waver, because we know that future generations depend on us.”

An Inconvenient Sequel

On July 28, Al Gore is releasing a sequel to his 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which will be directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk. The trailer for the film begins with a clip of Trump refuting global warming. The first film contributed  to bringing the effects of pollution into the public eye: Annie Leonard, Executive Director of Greenpeace, said that "it wasn’t until An Inconvenient Truth that the issue tipped over into popular consciousness" and that it "gave celebrities and business leaders the social license to speak out against climate change."

The sequel will continue the first's work and follow its general format, mixing Al Gore's public lectures with behind-the-scenes footage and clips of the horrendous damage climate change is doing to our planet. While it is damning about several aspects of modern industry, it is also optimistic and reveals how close we may be to a "real energy revolution."

Indeed, several promising avenues of change have opened in recent months, including prices of renewable energy sources falling rapidly, the world's largest floating solar plant coming online, and renewable energy sources breaking records frequently.

If we want to seriously combat climate change, collective information is as important as collective action — films like Gore's are vital if we are to teach as many people as possible about climate change, as they provide a counter discourse to the misinformation being propagated by Trump.


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