Al Gore gets poetic in call for Lima climate action

Former US vice president and climate champion expresses optimism for a breakthrough in efforts to tackle climate change

Al Gore raised the profile of climate change with his 2005 film An Inconvenient Truth (Pic: Flickr/Juampe López)

Al Gore raised the profile of climate change with his 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth
(Pic: Flickr/Juampe López)

By Megan Darby in Lima

Al Gore arrived at UN climate talks in Lima on Wednesday in an optimistic mood.

The former US vice president and climate champion’s first port of call was China’s “pavilion” in the temporary village.

These two countries, the world’s biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, are critical in negotiations towards a global climate deal in Paris next year.

In describing his hopes for a deal, Gore quoted poets from three languages: Chinese, Spanish and English.


Lu Xun, China

“Hope is a path on the mountainside. At first there is no path. But then there are people passing that way. And there is a path.”

Antonio Machado, Spain

“Traveller, there is no path. You must make the path as you walk.”

Wallace Stevens, US

“After the final no, there comes a yes. And on that yes, the future world depends.”

Read more on: Blog | COP20 | UN climate talks