Al Gore

“America's political system has evolved over the last 50 years in ways that have enhanced the power of business lobbies.”

“Consider what kind of car you get. Buy cars and other products that have the least impact environmentally.”

“As human beings, we are vulnerable to confusing the unprecedented with the improbable. In our everyday experience, if something has never happened before, we are generally safe in assuming it is not going to happen in the future, but the exceptions can kill you and climate change is one of those exceptions.”

“As I have said for many years throughout this land, we're borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change.”

“A zebra does not change its spots.”

“I think it's harder for people than it should be. But as more and more of us become carbon neutral and change the patterns in our lives to be part of the solution instead of part of the problem, we are now beginning to see the changes in policy that are needed.”

“The Bush-Cheney administration had betrayed some basic American values. So there was hunger for change.”

“I do genuinely believe that the political system is not linear. When it reaches a tipping point fashioned by a critical mass of opinion, the slow pace of change we're used to will no longer be the norm. I see a lot of signs every day that we're moving closer and closer to that tipping point.”

“While President Bush likes to project an image of strength and courage, the real truth is that in the presence of his large financial contributors, he is a moral coward.”

“I pledge to you today that as president, in my first budget, I will introduce the largest increase in special education ever.”

“I think the cost of energy will come down when we make this transition to renewable energy.”

“Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it's a challenge to the moral imagination.”

“I took the initiative in moving forward a whole range of initiatives that have proven to be important to our country's economic growth, environmental protection, improvements in our educational system.”

“If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.”

“I have faith in the United States and our ability to make good decisions based on the facts.”

“A president who breaks the law is a threat to the very structure of our government.”

“Our democracy, our constitutional framework is really a kind of software for harnessing the creativity and political imagination for all of our people. The American democratic system was an early political version of Napster.”

“Airplane travel is nature's way of making you look like your passport photo.”

“I was in elective politics for 24 years. I've made four national races, two for President, two for Vice President. I have found there are other ways to serve, and I'm enjoying them.”

“The science linking the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather to the climate crisis has matured tremendously in the last couple of years.”

“Winston Churchill aroused this nation in heroic fashion to save civilisation in World War Two. We have everything we need except political will, but political will is a renewable resource.”