| Al Gore is the former vice president of the United | | | | were also re-elected in 1996. After Clinton's term |
| States of America. Perhaps Gore is best known for | | | | ended, Gore decided to run as president opposite |
| his contributions to environmentalism, as well as | | | | George W. Bush in 2000. Gore won the popularity |
| running as president opposite George W. Bush in | | | | vote, but in the end, Bush won the presidency. It |
| 2000. | | | | was a decision that was supported by the U.S. |
| Gore is a recipient of a Nobel Peace Prize award for | | | | Supreme Court, and a decision that Gore disagreed |
| his efforts in educating the public to the effects of | | | | with. However, he conceded for the sake of "unity |
| global warming and climate change. He even released | | | | as a people and the strength of [the US'] |
| a documentary entitled "An Inconvenient Truth." | | | | democracy." |
| Personal Background | | | | Environmental Efforts |
| Gore is born to a family of political background, as his | | | | Since the late 1970s, Gore has been making efforts |
| father was a U.S. Representative and Senator. His | | | | regarding climate change and its effects to the |
| father represented Tennessee -- - during his term in | | | | environment. The Concord Monitor remarked that |
| Congress. Gore's mother was a graduate of | | | | Gore grasped early the seriousness of the problem |
| Vanderbilt University Law School, one of the first | | | | of climate change, and was one of the few to seek |
| women to do so. | | | | lower emission levels of carbon dioxide and other |
| Following the footsteps of his father, Gore graduated | | | | gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect. |
| from Harvard University with a B.A. in government in | | | | Gore also appeared in a 2006 documentary, An |
| 1969. He even graduated with flying colors, finishing | | | | Inconvenient Truth, in which he tries to bring forward |
| cum laude at the course. Just a year later, he married | | | | evidence that the world is experiencing anthropogenic |
| Mary Elizabeth Aitcheson with whom he has four | | | | global warming. The film also tries to show people |
| children. | | | | what would happen if the problem of global warming |
| Like almost all young men in the United States at | | | | and climate change is not addressed with appropriate |
| that time, Gore spent time in Vietnam as part of the | | | | measures. The film won an Academy Award for Best |
| 20th Engineer Brigade in Bien Hoa. Even though he | | | | Documentary Feature. |
| opposed the war, Gore enlisted in the U.S. Army out | | | | Gore's environmental efforts are not without criticism. |
| of civic duty and said that serving in Vietnam | | | | The Tennessee Center for Policy Research has said |
| exposed him to the South Vietnamese's desire to | | | | that Gore consumes 12 to 20 times more electricity |
| cling to their freedom, but failed to change his stance | | | | than the average family in his mansion. Since 2005, |
| about war being a big mistake. | | | | the group added, Gore's mansion has increased its |
| Gore's time in Vietnam discouraged him from taking a | | | | electricity consumption. The MSNBC came to Gore's |
| career in politics and, instead turned to journalism and | | | | response, citing that the Gores merely increased their |
| divinity school after returning home from Vietnam. It | | | | consumption their 50% due to the Green Power |
| would only be in 1976 would he embark on a political | | | | Switch, which costs a lot more for them. |
| career, a decision which was a surprise even to | | | | The Associated Press published a story on December |
| himself. Gore also refused help from his father during | | | | 13, 2007 that Gore has completed renovating his |
| his campaign. | | | | home in order to make it more energy efficient. |
| Political Career | | | | Gore's mansion received the U.S. Green Building |
| At the age of 28, Gore was elected as Congressman | | | | Council's second-highest rating. The TCPR again |
| of Tennessee. As a congressman, he introduced the | | | | criticized Gore, accusing him of higher bills after his |
| bill that would later on lead to the National | | | | new technology was installed. |
| Information Infrastructure and, subsequently, the | | | | Gore also received criticisms for his purchase of |
| Internet. He also tried to cease the United States' | | | | carbon credits from Generation Investment |
| support for Saddam Hussein by cosponsoring the | | | | Management, due to the fact that he is the Chairman |
| Prevention of Genocide Act of 1988 during his | | | | of that company. Generation responded by stating |
| senatorial term, but he failed in this task. | | | | that the company does not sell or develop carbon |
| Gore was picked by Bill Clinton to run as vice | | | | credits, but purchases them from third-party |
| president during the 1992 presidential election. Both | | | | providers on behalf of its employees. |
| Clinton and Gore won the elections in 1992. Both | | | | |