2007 Nobel Peace Prize
Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, which was a joint award to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as well. IPCC is a United Nations- sponsored body of scientists who worked closely with Gore to “disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.” The award was a vindication for his documentary film An Inconvenient Truth (2006), which discussed about the consequences of climate change, supported with scientific research by the IPCC. The award was also an acknowledgement of the United Nation panel’s impartial and objective scientific findings of climate change, which prove the human role and contributions to the climate crisis.
“I am deeply honored to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This award is even more meaningful because I have the honor of sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—the world’s pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis—a group whose members have worked tirelessly and selflessly for many years. We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.”
– Gore’s speech after receiving the 2007 Nobel Peace Price
The Nobel Committee even mentioned that Gore is probably the single individual who has contributed the most in rousing the public and government to take action in combating the climate crisis. Gore was seen as “the great communicator” through his tireless campaigns to put climate crisis on political agenda, and international conferences in raising public awareness on the seriousness of environmental situation. The proceeds of the award of his portion went entirely to his nonprofit organization, which is currently known as The Climate Reality Project.