Nobel Peace Prize Awarded to IPCC and Al Gore - October 12, 2007

On October 12, 2007, the Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. This prestigious recognition was given for their significant efforts in increasing awareness and understanding of man-made climate change and laying the groundwork for measures to counteract its effects.

Background

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

• Established: 1988 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
• Purpose: To provide comprehensive scientific assessments about the risk of climate change caused by human activity, its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts, and possible response strategies.
• Contributions: The IPCC’s reports have been instrumental in shaping global climate policy, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Their assessments are considered authoritative sources of information on climate change.

Al Gore

• Role: Former Vice President of the United States (1993-2001) and environmental activist.
• Contributions: Al Gore has been a prominent advocate for climate change awareness. His documentary film, “An Inconvenient Truth” (2006), played a crucial role in educating the public about the urgency of addressing climate change. The film won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

Significance of the Award

The Nobel Committee recognized the IPCC and Al Gore for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change. Their work has been pivotal in:

• Raising global awareness about the scientific realities of climate change.
• Encouraging international cooperation and policy-making to address environmental challenges.
• Inspiring individuals and governments to take action to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Impact and Aftermath

• Global Awareness: The award significantly boosted global awareness and dialogue about climate change, emphasizing the need for urgent action.
• Policy Influence: It reinforced the importance of scientific research in informing policy decisions and encouraged countries to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Continued Advocacy: Both the IPCC and Al Gore continued their advocacy and research efforts, contributing to ongoing discussions and actions related to climate change.

The joint award highlighted the critical intersection of science and advocacy in addressing one of the most pressing issues of our time, underscoring the collective responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.