Al Gore

I believe that our country needs a Unified National Smart Grid, with a large Federal role, not to the complete elimination of State and regional roles.

Capitalism itself has been under attack in the wake of the synchronized global recession and the credit crisis that has now gripped the global economy.

Second, pass a cap-and-trade bill here in the Senate.

If we can kick-start a massive global shift from an energy infrastructure that depends on dirty and expensive carbon-based fuels to an infrastructure that is based on fuels that are free forever--the sun and the wind, geothermal--then…

Crisis is both danger and opportunity

I think that the Senate legislation, as it currently stands coming out of committee, is--has a serious problem.

I think it's still widely recognized as in the highest degree of political difficulty; and therefore, there's a risk of making the best the enemy of the better.

Rejecting a market mechanism as a part of the solution... is shortsighted if it doesn't take into account the dire problem with markets.

There is now a widespread acceptance, in the developing countries, that they have to have differentiated, but binding, commitments in the first phases of a treaty.

I support the development of a more integrated, unified, national smart grid that will allow us to better transmit electricity across the country with low losses.

It's in China's own interest to accept greenhouse gas emissions goals, not just in the international interest.

We can lead the world with our own job creation and higher living standards by leading this transition to a low-carbon economy.

I think that one of the real keys is firming up the willingness of the developing countries to undertake, the phrase is, 'differentiated, but binding, obligations' in the first phase.

One of the most interesting frontiers in international law is the intersection of the solution to the climate crisis and the world trading system.

We could be completely fossil fuel free in the production of our electricity for the United States.

This is a wonderful opportunity for people to avoid making the mistakes we made

And then, the third step is to go to Copenhagen, behind President Obama's leadership, and get a treaty that's ratified and allows the U.S. to lead the world again.

The most serious defect in the way capitalism has addressed this climate crisis... has been what the economic theorists call 'externalities.'

A large and adequate adaptation fund should be a part of this treaty, to help areas like Africa

First of all, pass the green stimulus provisions of President Obama's recovery plan, and book the CO2 reductions that can come from that plan.

I'm very concerned that the committee version would result in a complete screeching halt to any construction of solar facilities or wind facilities.

The solutions to the climate crisis are, in many cases, more easily and readily deployable in regions like Africa

We are legally obligated, under that treaty, to keep the world below--to keep emissions below dangerous levels.

Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change and climate variability.

This is the most serious challenge the world has ever faced.