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Al Gore, UN panel share Nobel for Peace
By Doug Mellgren and Matt Moore
Associated Press
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OSLO, Norway -- Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change jointly won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Friday for their efforts to spread awareness of man-made climate change and to lay the foundations for fighting it.

Gore, who won an Academy Award earlier this year for his film on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," had been widely tipped to win the prize.

He said that global warming was not a political issue but a worldwide crisis.

"We face a true planetary emergency. ... It is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity," he said. "It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level."

The win is also likely add further fuel to a burgeoning movement in the United States for Gore to run for president in 2008, which he has so far said he does not plan to do.

Kenneth Sherrill, a political scientist at Hunter College in New York said Gore probably enjoys being a public person more than an elected official.

"He seems happier and liberated in the years since his loss in 2000. Perhaps winning the Nobel and being viewed as a prophet in his own time will be sufficient," says Sherrill.

Two Gore advisers, speaking on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to share his thinking, said the award will not make it more likely that he will seek the presidency. If anything, the Peace Prize makes the rough-and-tumble of a presidential race less appealing to Gore, they said, because now he has a huge, international platform to fight global warming and may not want to do anything to diminish it.

One of the advisers said that while Gore is unlikely to rule out a bid in the coming days, the prospects of the former vice president entering the fray in 2008 are "extremely remote."

In its citation, the committed lauded Gore's "strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change. He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted."

Ole Danbolt Mjoes, chairman of the prize committee, said the award should not be seen as singling out the Bush administration for criticism.

"A peace prize is never a criticism of anything. A peace prize is a positive message and support to all those champions of peace in the world."

Bush abandoned the Kyoto Protocol because he said it would harm the U.S. economy and because it did not require immediate cuts by countries like China and India. The treaty aimed to put the biggest burden on the richest nations that contributed the most carbon emissions.

The U.S. Senate voted against mandatory carbon reductions before the Kyoto negotiations were completed. The treaty was never presented to the Senate for ratification by the Clinton Administration.

"Al Gore has fought the environment battle even as vice president," Mjoes said. "Many did not listen ... but he carried on."

Gore supporters have been raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for petition drives and advertising in an effort to lure him into the Democratic presidential primaries. One group, Draftgore.com, ran a full-page open letter to Gore in Wednesday's New York Times, imploring him to get into the race.

Gore, 59, has been coy, saying repeatedly he's not running for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008, without ever closing that door completely.

He was the Democratic nominee in 2000 and won the general election popular vote. However, Gore lost the electoral vote to George W. Bush after a legal challenge to the Florida result that was decided by the Supreme Court.

Gore called the award meaningful because of his co-winner, calling the IPCC the "world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis."

Gore said he planned to donate his share of the prize money to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan nonprofit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion in the U.S. and around the world about the urgency of solving the climate crisis.

The last American to win the prize, or share it, was former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who won it 2002.

The committee cited the IPCC for its two decades of scientific reports that have "created an ever-broader informed consensus about the connection between human activities and global warming. Thousands of scientists and officials from over 100 countries have collaborated to achieve greater certainty as to the scale of the warming."

It went on to say that because of the panel's efforts, global warming has been increasingly recognized. In the 1980s it "seemed to be merely an interesting hypothesis, the 1990s produced firmer evidence in its support. In the last few years, the connections have become even clearer and the consequences still more apparent."

"It was a surprise," said Carola Traverso Saibante, spokeswoman for the IPCC. "We would have been happy even if (Gore) had received it alone because it is a recognition of the importance of this issue."

But some questioned the prize decision.

"Awarding it to Al Gore cannot be seen as anything other than a political statement. Awarding it to the IPCC is well-founded," said Bjorn Lomborg, author of "The Skeptical Environmentalist."

He criticized Gore's film as having "some very obvious mistakes, like the argument that we're going to see six meters of sea-level rise," he said.

"They (Nobel committee) have a unique platform in getting people's attention on this issue, and I regret they have used it to make a political statement."

This year, climate change has been at the top of the world agenda. The U.N. climate panel has been releasing its reports; talks on a replacement for the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate are set to resume; and on Europe's northern fringe, where the awards committee works, concern about the melting Arctic has been underscored by this being the International Polar Year.

Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission, said the prize would help to continue the globally growing awareness of climate change.

"Their contributions to the prevention of climate change have raised awareness all over the world. Their work has been an inspiration for politicians and citizens alike," he said in a statement.

In recent years, the Norwegian committee has broadened its interpretation of peacemaking and disarmament efforts outlined by Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel in creating the prize with his 1895 will. The prize now often also recognizes human rights, democracy, elimination of poverty, sharing resources and the environment.

"We believe that the Nobel Committee has shown great courage by so clearly connecting the climate problems with peace," said Truls Gulowsen, head of environmental group Greenpeace Norway.

The Nobel Prizes each bestow a gold medal, a diploma and a $1.5 million cash prize on the winner.

On the Net

http://www.nobelpeaceprize.org

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Reader comments on this story - 34 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

cretinalert wrote on Oct 14, 2007 12:27 PM:

" Venus This planet doesn't belong to this list of planets where recent warming has been demonstrated. Mar's polar cap recession is due to excessive wobble in its orbit and is well understood. Please leave Science to Scientists, not drug addicts like rush limbo "

OGS Carbon Taxes Are Next... wrote on Oct 13, 2007 5:10 AM:

" ...that is why global warming has become an issue. Although the movie An Inconveinent Truth was very conviencing, it wasn't exactly truthful due to the fact that too much information to the contrary was avoided. One simple fact to know is that the surface temperature of Mars and Venus are also warming. Surely, that is not due to our environment. I am an advocate of being kinder to our environment but I am not an advocate of those who would mislead us such as Al Gore and his agenda. "

BN Republican wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:29 PM:

" I think it ought to be changed to the Nobel War prize. Then our Hero President, George W. Bush could win it for his heroic defense of Christianity and the American way of life! "

USN Ret wrote on Oct 12, 2007 6:44 PM:

" Strange that you choose to cite a few local scientists who studied a small area of ice at one pole and offer that as "proof" against climate shift. In Antarctica, huge expanses of ice have broken off and are slowing moving into warmer water. In the Arctic, the ice is going and not coming back. Ditto the many glaciers and continental ice sheets world-wide. The Earth is one big system, no single point of climate data can define the overall health and balance of the system. Having been in the Navy, you should have learned that it was not the size of the hole but the amount of water getting it that would sink your boat. "

Poor Little Bushies wrote on Oct 12, 2007 6:33 PM:

" Gore impresses all sorts of people, here and around the world. He gets more votes and more prizes as time marches on. Bush, on the other hand, impresses next to nobody and is losing support everywhere, even within his own base. Yes, Indeed. Bush has been a great "Uniter" and Coalition Builder as promised - More and more, everyone with half a clue is against him and his half-baked notions. Bush is his own worst enemy. "

Cynic wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:46 PM:

" Read these post and it is amazing the lengths that some will go to defend Al Gore. Stoop to the usual name calling and hatefilled postings. But I like Chicken Little, yeah the sky is falling. Catch those acorns, you can make flour with them. "

To: To Sad Day wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:40 PM:

" Yes I agree with you things would have been different if Al Gore was President. We would have done nothing after 9/11. We would have been attacked again. And then talked about what to do. We would have negotiated our surrender. Yes things would have been different under Al Gore. "

To Sad Day wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:25 PM:

" I can tell from your comments you voted for and support Bush. Al Gore has more knowledge in his little finger than George W. has in his entire body - then again a monkey is smarter than George W. I guess George W. should get an award too as the worst President ever!!!! Just imagine if Al Gore would have become President and how much better the U.S and the World would be today. We would not have lost thousands of our military men and women (for nothing) and Iraq would not be in the huge mess that it is today. "

Native wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:17 PM:

" Alphonse this has nothing to do with your irrational hatred. Global warming is not a Liberal/Conservative thing, except when you make it one. I belive that we should all do are part to conserve. Leave the land as we found it. But Global warming is based on scare tactics and not based on sound scientific studies. They use computor models that they programed. When you do that you input the data for the results that you want. Conserve with out Global warming scare tactics. "

Mother Nature wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:15 PM:

" So this jerk gets an award for something I've been doing since Earth's creation? The weather is not a constant, my friends. I instead opt for cycles, as evidenced by the fact that Illinois has been a swamp, a frozen tundra, and an ocean in its lifetime. These gradual changes will continue no matter what man tries to do about it. "

Chicken Little wrote on Oct 12, 2007 4:08 PM:

" Alphonse what sound scientific global warming. We don't need no sound scientific nothing. We have Al Gore!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!! "

to Alphonse wrote on Oct 12, 2007 3:47 PM:

" I bet you are a Liberal huh "

To Alphonse: wrote on Oct 12, 2007 3:15 PM:

" Can you tell me what caused sea levels to rise in the past? "

Chicken Little wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:46 PM:

" THE SKY IS FALLING! THE SKY IS FALLING!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!! Darn acorns. "

USN RET wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:22 PM:

" U of I climatoligists say Antartic ice mass is at a record high. Al Gore said its melting! its melting! Also English court says Inconvenient Truth contains 9 Convenient Untruths. "

Big Deal wrote on Oct 12, 2007 1:08 PM:

" The Nobel Prize has been tarnished by awarding it to Gore. "

To: A Friend wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:38 PM:

" You must have been asleep when Al " Chicken Little" Gore made the statement that he invented the Internet. It was at a campaign rally. When it made news he then recanted, then said he was misquoted. Then said that was not what he ment. Then said that ..... "

All of you wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:37 PM:

" right-wingers who are complaining about Gore winning this are just jealous. Your just jealous that you beloved "Decider" will never have a snowball's chance in h&%l of winning this. "

Chicken Little wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:33 PM:

" My Hero won! We will all join together to shout the SKY IS FALLING! "

Alphonse wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:18 PM:

" You deniers are pathetic. Your irrational hatred of liberalism runs so deep that you are willing to pretend that something as scientifically sound as global warming doesn't exist, just because some fools told you it was a liberal concept. Gore is right when he says that this is not a political issue, but one that affects everybody from all political backgrounds and ideas. oh, and p.s. Al Gore has never claimed to have invented, created, or even conceptualize the internet. Stop parroting political pundits, they, and by extension you, are killing reasonable discourse. "

Not So Quick wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:10 PM:

" I understand after Gore accepted it, he changed his mind. Oh wait... that was his conceding defeat at the 2002 general election. "

A Friend wrote on Oct 12, 2007 12:07 PM:

" Congratulations to Former Vice President Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. By the way, Al Gore never claimed to have invented the Internet. He did lay claim to advocating it's development, but there is no legitimate prooof he ever made the statement that is widely (and erroneously) attributed to him. No one can cite (with proof) when and where he made the statement because he never did. Hee Haw. "

Facts... wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:46 AM:

" While all the publicity is focused on the ice that melts up north at record levels, no one seems to care or report at how the ice in the south is increasing at record levels. Al Gore...Father of the Intarwebnets. What a moron. "

Wow... wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:43 AM:

" I didn't know they handed out Nobel prizes for fictional works. "

Al wrote on Oct 12, 2007 11:19 AM:

" Gore...Al Gore....what is wrong with this world? Thomson for President!!!! "

Still wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:55 AM:

" What has caused water levels to rise previous to this? "

Sad Day wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:46 AM:

" Pretty pathetic when a liar, self promoter, and hypocrite like Gore and a bureacratic failure like the UN are bestowed what was once considered a great honor. Like everything else, the Libs have degraded one more aspect of our lives. "

USN RET wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:12 AM:

" Don't worry folks that loud whine you hear is just Mr Nobel spinning in his grave. "

Congrats wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:11 AM:

" I believe Mr. Gore is on the right track. The changes in climate are enough for me to believe he is right. The asthma and allergies our children have is another reason to believe he speaks the truth. GORE FOR PRESIDENT!!! "

of course he won wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:06 AM:

" he invented the internet... "

Area Resident wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:04 AM:

" Al Gore deserves this prize! I am just going to say it. It is funny how the man that I voted for in the 2000 pres. election recieves the Nobel PEACE prize, where as the man elected is known only for war! "

Way to go Al wrote on Oct 12, 2007 10:02 AM:

" although I would like someone with less of a quotable background to be leading the charge I am glad the flat-earth society global warming deniers now have more anger to raise their blood pressure. "

dwarf wrote on Oct 12, 2007 9:53 AM:

" Good for him! I'm impressed. "

Pity wrote on Oct 12, 2007 9:49 AM:

" they went in this direction. They could have just awarded it to the real scientists on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and kept the award legitimately in the hands of the scientists who earned it. Now they've taken the award political by forcing these scientists to share it with this megalomaniac. "
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