An Inconvenient Truth
In this lesson, we look at Al Gore's award winning 2006 film ''An
Inconvenient Truth'' and provide a summary along with relevant facts
and notable quotes.
An Inconvenient Truth is a documentary in which Al Gore
describes the problems of climate change against the backdrop of
the political climate of the time, including the hotly-debated 2000
election that cost him the presidency. The film won several awards
including two Oscars and the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.
Summary
The film is a collection of clips of Al Gore's environmental speeches
that he gave multiple times all over the world. Gore also provides
some autobiographical information about his life on a farm as well as
his experience in the presidential race.
He begins by explaining the overlap between increases in carbon
emissions and increases in global temperature. He provides a brief
explanation of the basic foundational theories on how climate change
works.
He then goes into the impact of these temperature changes on the
weather and increases in major storms, like Hurricane Katrina. Other
natural catastrophes worldwide are depicted with powerful, often
graphic, photos in a slideshow with several live audiences.
To avoid leaving audiences feeling hopelessly doomed, Gore rounds
out the end of the movie with a call to action, with specific things
people can do to slow the rate of carbon increases and climate
change. He suggests ratifying the environmental treaty Kyoto, taking
a more active role in politics, and making more mindful purchasing
choices as ways to mitigate these negative impacts.
Facts
An Inconvenient Truth provides several factual statements that have
proven true over the time since the movie came out a decade ago.
The extent of the catastrophic climate situation has made itself more
evident, as confirmed by science. Let's take a look at the main claims
in the film and what science says to support these facts.
The increase in major storms and high category hurricanes has been
substantiated, though some of the increase is attributed to
differences in the severity rating systems and the cyclical increase in
storms.
The doubling of the death toll of global warming in the next 25 years
is an extrapolation of data including numbers during deadly heat
waves, the likes of which are expected to occur with greater
frequency.
Plot Summary
An Inconvenient Truth is a 2006 nonfiction book released in
conjunction with the documentary film of the same name. This book,
by former vice-president Al Gore, presents scientific information
about global climate change. He intersperses this information with
personal anecdotes that outline the more human and social
dimensions of the issue.
An Inconvenient Truth begins with an introduction to the basic
science of global warming and the greenhouse gases that cause it.
The first forty pages of the book also discuss the scientist and
professor who introduced Gore to the idea of climate change.
Following this, the book goes into one effect of global warming:
receding glaciers. This portion looks at dramatic changes at different
locations around the world through comparison photos and charts
that show an increase in temperature and carbon dioxide levels.
The next section details how Gore’s 6-year-old son had a life-
threatening accident. This event redirected Gore’s focus to what was
really important about Earth and its livability for future generations.
Gore then covers rising temperature and how it affects the Earth’s
weather patterns. Over roughly fifty pages, he looks at heat waves,
hurricanes and other storms, desertification, and how weather events
have increased in intensity and duration. In stressing their severity,
he looks at the human-scale effects of such disasters, including
losses to the economy and human livelihood.
Another personal anecdote details Gore’s experience dividing his
time between city life and farm life, helping him better appreciate
nature.
Gore returns to global issues by focusing on the Arctic and the
Antarctic, which are particularly sensitive to changes in weather
patterns. He inserts an anecdote about how his personal travels
allowed him to understand better the climate issues the world is
facing. He details the environmental shifts that may be coming, and
how they might change the balance of nature. The next individual
reflection looks at how people have lost touch with nature.
Species around the globe are being threatened by climate change,
Gore says. He here discusses coral reefs, ocean acidification, the
proliferation of algae, and disease vectors. He explores Antarctica,
with its breaking ice shelfs, then moves on to show how low-lying
areas may completely disappear as a result of rising ocean levels.
Gore next moves to a more human scale, starting with a personal
anecdote that explains his commitment to public service. He says he
finds American democracy thrilling because freedom awaits for a
spark to ignite it.
In the following section, he looks at the collision between human
civilization and nature. Tackling urbanization, deforestation, and
wildfires, Gore explains that humans now have a moral obligation to
use technology wisely. Additionally, people must think about the
climate crisis differently; just because climate change happens
gradually doesn’t mean it isn’t a serious problem. He relates the story
of his sister’s battle with cancer to illustrate how insidious a gradual
decline can be, and also how corporate institutions often have a
stake in hiding the truth.
To continue the theme, Gore impresses upon his audience that
climate change is, in fact, a reality agreed upon by scientists. From
here, he delves into current actions and future possibilities. His last
personal anecdote explores how global warming is an “inconvenient
truth” that requires humans to change the way they live; because of
this, it has become politically expedient to discredit and deny.
Gore finishes the book on an optimistic note. He reminds readers
how Americans have overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles
in the past, and that people are capable of securing their futures.
The final twenty pages of the book offer ways people
can make a difference through saving energy, consuming
less, being mindful of transportation issues, and
becoming a catalyst for change. These tips are
presented in parallel with a list of misconceptions about
climate change, as sound bite reminders of the
“inconvenient truth” that Gore wants everyone to
understand.