Al Gore To Address The UN Climate Conference in Bali, Urges The U.S. And China To Act Or Stand Accountable

Bali, Indonesia (AHN) - Accepting the Nobel Prize has not slowed down former Vice-President Al Gore in his fight to stop global warming. In less than two days, he will address the United Nation's Climate Conference in Bali. "I will bring hundreds of thousands of messages demanding that a visionary global treaty be completed and brought into effect by 2010," Gore said.

"If we want to solve the climate crisis, together we need to demonstrate the broad public support for action. That's why it's vital that you sign our petition."

Gore said that during the past few months he and his supporters have taken many positive steps towards uniting governments worldwide around the goal of solving the climate crisis.

"This week, I will urge the delegates in Bali to adopt a bold mandate for a treaty that establishes a universal global cap on emissions and uses the market in emissions trading to efficiently allocate resources to the most effective opportunities for speedy reductions.

This treaty should be ratified and brought into effect everywhere in the world by the beginning of 2010, two years sooner than presently contemplated.

"The pace of our response must be accelerated to match the accelerating pace of the crisis itself," Gore said.

And on Dec. 3, Australia's new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's first formal act in office was to ratify the Kyoto Treaty. This was a clear demonstration of Australia's priorities, Gore said.

Yet this progress has not swayed the Bush Administration. With thousands of delegates gathered in Bali for the UN Climate Conference, Gore said this is "our" last chance in 2007 to show the world how serious the American people are about ending the climate crisis.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Gore said the world needs an alliance, especially from countries that contribute the most to global warming.

While saluting Europe and Japan for the steps they've taken in recent years to meet the challenge, and the new government in Australia, which has made solving the climate crisis its first priority, he also issued a plea to the United States and China to step up.

"It should be absolutely clear that it is the two largest CO2 emitters, most of all, my own country, that will need to make the boldest moves, or stand accountable before history for their failure to act," Gore said in his speech. "Both countries should stop using the other's behavior as an excuse for stalemate and instead develop an agenda for mutual survival in a shared global environment."

That's why Gore says it is so vital that Americans join together and demonstrate their political will.

During the past few days, more than 173,963 people have signed the petition, according to Gore.

"Time is short. We need to mobilize everyone to bring this message to Bali," Gore said. "The American people want a visionary treaty to address climate change and for the US government to play a positive leadership role in its development."