Gore: Climate Change Deniers Should Pay a Political Price

Former vice president Al Gore, speaking at the Social Good Summit in New York City on Monday, demanded that those who deny climate change be made to pay “a political price.” Gore stated,

Within the market system we have to put a price on carbon, and within the political system, we have to put a price on denial. It is simply not acceptable for major companies to mimic the unethical strategy of the tobacco companies in presenting blatantly false information in order to protect a business model. There needs to be a political price for denial.

Unsatisfied with last week’s Environmental Protection Agency’s draft rule which set harsher emissions limits for new power plants, although he allowed it was an “important step forward,” Gore wants to truly target carbon emissions with a “revenue neutral” carbon tax.

Gore isn’t satisfied with the current disagreements over climate change; he wants to silence opposition by encouraging families and communities to challenge climate change deniers wherever they are. He said, “We can win this conversation and winning a conversation can make all the difference. Don’t let denial go unchallenged.” Citing Hurricane Sandy, Gore added, “I think we are right at a political tipping point, because people are hearing from their parents and grandparents and elders that it has never been like this before. These are new weather and climate conditions.”

Gore drew from the gay movement for inspiration; he told of an incident where two gay men were insulted by another customer in line at an Ohio pizza joint, and other people in line and the employees joined to condemn the customer.