Former Vice President-turned climate change entrepreneur Al Gore predicted ten years ago today that at this moment the globe would be embroiled in a “planetary emergency,” unless the United States immediately took drastic steps to reduce carbon emissions.
After attempts to pass so called “Cap and Trade” failed in Congress, the Obama administration unilaterally imposed stringent regulations on energy producers. But while Alabama Power has spent billions of dollars in recent years to comply with federal environmental regulations, the most significant of the EPA’s climate rules — the “Clean Power Plan” — has not yet gone into effect because it is being challenged in court by almost half the states. The fight made its way to the Supreme Court this week.
In short, the United States has not implemented many of Mr. Gore’s favored regulations — at least not yet — but the ice in the Antarctic continues to reach record highs, according to NASA.
Mr. Gore’s failed doomsday predictions prompted a series of social media responses on Wednesday, including one from Alabama Republican Party chairwoman Terry Lathan.
Just making sure everyone is ok today! #alpolitics #DoomsdayClock #AlGoreDay #ruhroh pic.twitter.com/mCivWrGOJe
— Terry Lathan (@ChairmanLathan) January 27, 2016
Mr. Gore may ultimately have the last laugh, though. His climate activism has propelled his net worth from ” between $700,000 and $1.9 million” when he ran for president in 2000, to over $100 million today.
And miraculously the Earth is still around for him to enjoy it.
