Climate Click

Former US Vice President Al Gore said on Monday that Turkey could be a leader in its region in reversing the effects of global warming through the climate policies it has the option of endorsing.

Gore, who has become the most insistent voice sounding the “wake-up call” for governments around the world to preemptively contain global warming, said at a forum in İstanbul that Turkey has the ability to provide leadership and support for the changes in policy that the world needs. Gore’s remarks came at a seminar in İstanbul late Monday at the Leaders of Change Summit, where many international figures, academics, intellectuals and senior government officials convened to discuss ways to positively contribute to change.

Gore said Turkey is at the nexus of North Africa, the Middle East and Europe and could become a lynchpin in a potential wind and solar energy grid. The former vice president also warned that Turkey could experience one of the most severe droughts by the end of this century starting in the 2030s, according to a reliable study, unless the international community takes steps to prevent this from happening.

Gore stressed that Turkey is perceived as a moral leader in its region and is making effective progress. “Turkey is a prosperous and huge country. It is displaying unprecedented leadership,” Gore noted.

He also pointed to the Arab world and said when young people are told that their country is not ready for democracy, the first thing they say is, “Look at Turkey.” He said this is only a single example of the ability for moral leadership that Turkey has. During his presentation Gore warned that the recent wave of floods and drought all around the world is evidence that danger is looming. He also talked about his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, which was also flooded recently, and provided examples from Turkey, which has experienced fires and floods that wreaked havoc in the country. Citing scientific studies and challenging claims that global warming and climate change is a myth, Gore listed numerous national science academies that agree with the fact that climate change is indeed occurring. The former vice president also underlined that the Turkish National Science Academy (TÜBA) also agrees that global warming is an undeniable reality of today.

source:todayzaman, image: smh,AP