I quote from the lead article above:
"...This has partly been the result of Mr Gore’s campaigning and the success of his Oscar-winning film, An Inconvenient Truth. It has also been driven by anxiety over weather disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, which may have owed its intensity to the effects of global warming..."

Oh really? Run that slowly past me again! I thought that Katrina was relatively modest in strength, but that it was unfortunate that it hit precisely in an area that was a disaster waiting to happen.

Someone please clarify

Bob, Melbourne, Australia

Re Samuel of Paris,
Yep, you are not alone.
What I don't understand is that there are people that actually enjoy his silly exagerrations

Bob, Melbourne, Australia

well it has been all said , but curious how many countries at the Bali "resort" are adhering to the Kyoto protocol? name one. So the genius who said tax the non compliers I guess we could use the money the us provided in aid each year to Europe and the rest of the world. Hmm when there are disasters in the world every one says how said but it is us warships, planes, marines and helicopters to help, we do not send a bill , we just do. hey Stanley Austin, M.D., Anchorage, Alaska does co2 actually do anything to the climate? if so sight once fact. Amazing that there are scientist on the record at un who disagree with the Nobel prize co winner. hmm, just blame America for everything that will solve all of Europe’s and the worlds problems.

nricom, south carolina, us

I would say one's view of Gore depends upon one's political affiliations. Those right-wing conservatives who deify wealth and the right of their country (or themselves) to get it by any means, hate "do-gooders" such as Gore!.. Interferes with a man's right to do business! "Heart bleeders" who empathise with the plight of the increasing number of people who are suffering the consequences of climate change, appreciate Gore and his message. All newspapers here in Australia (thus reflecting the majority opinion of the public), admire the stance our new PM Rudd has taken to ratify Kyoto, isolate the obstructionist US position, and work with the world community to look for solutions. I am always amazed how small minds sit back and yap at people who have the courage to stand up and try to bring a change for good.

leoni, Brisbane,

I've lived in the United States for 5 years. It's the most wonderfully diverse, techno-advanced enviromentally concious society in the world.
Americans as a whole are fat nicer and far more accepting of different people and I find nothing odd with their educational standard, in fact they seem more informed and less short sighted than my European freinds and family.
The media, here and abroad, paint a picture that contrast highly with the actual reality of the USA.
For instance, I have not met one person who admires Al Gore, even those that voted for him in their past elections.
Most are highly concerned about the enviroment but are not convinced that CO2 is responsible for climate change
No wonder I love it here so much

Slee, Winter Park , USA, Florida

Americans are individuals, please recognize sources of comment content. The US educational system promulgated by Bush administration has most Americans educated, tested to the lowest common standard to easily control and influence. With common minimum vocabulary, neo-conservative think tanks, e.g. American Enterprise Institute, generate talking points for hate radio commentators--self-proclaimed America’s Truth Detector, Peace Prize Candidate, Great American with all the news you need--to disseminate the administration’s global denial, deceit, deception, doubt and disinformation. Commenters parroted propaganda points showing how effective, pervasive the dumbing down of America has been. All right, election of Bush is also evidence. Hate radio jocks did not tell their 15MM+ listeners Gore’s remodeled 80 year old house/office is 1 of 14 to earn gold status by the Green Building Council, completely fitted with CFLs, LEDs, solar panels, rain water collection and geothermal heat pump.

Stephen, Humble, Texas

Interesting to read all the bickering.
I was introduced to the concept of global warming in 1986. I watched with interest as the Kyoto agreement was drawn up. I now watch anxiously to see if Bali makes any progress.
If the truth be known, the human machine will not stop. The world is going to change dramatically. Most of you that made comments, sit very comfortably. Millions of people and vast areas of naturally sustainable arable silts do not sit very comfortably.
We are manipulating the earth beyond it's ability to sustain us. If we are lucky the dramitic change will be a 'correction'. A world population decline, a redefining of the geographical map, and perhaps a more knowledgeable humankind to continue.
We must remember that we are just a blip in the history of mother earth.

NPC, London, UK

One of the things I enjoy most about the international tizzzy fit which was formerly known as "Global Warming" is that I get to watch anti-American twits foam at the mouth as they wallow in the realization their own impotence with regards to the U.S..

The lesson for the rest of the world is that Americans don't capitulate to pressure. There will be a price for the idiotic abusive dishonest anti-Americanism... you'll be paying it for many years and this is just the first installment.

We used to like you even if we didn't trust or respect you, now even that is gone. You're real shock will come when we pull out of NATO and the WTO, and it's a Democrat administration which does it.

W.H. Langeman, Tucson, USA, AZ

I like to make a radical proposal. As money is stopping the US and China to agree we can ensure money will make them to agree (the reasons given are just another way of saying it is not economically advantageous to us). Lets put 50% additional eco tax on products from those nations not agreeing. The revenue from this tax could be used to fund projects to further reduce EU emissions. If that does not work the UN could impose further economic sanctions against those nations. A principal frequently used against other nations. After all they are using production methods, which are damaging and threatening to live on earth. Leaving a challenging future for our great grand children. Lets call those nations ‘eco-terrorists’. I am sure that these financial sanctions will soon persuade them to sign up. Then again it is the US who own the UN, never mind the world disagrees with the US and China.

Erik, London,

What so many in Europe fail to recognize is that Al Gore is NOT a wonderful, eriudite politician. He is viewed as something of a "goof" in the United States - and furthermore - many of us do not trust him or what he says at all. Yes, we do need to do something about the environment - but believe me when I say that Al Gore is in this ONLY for his own advancement. Remember - he is the man who claimed to have "invented the internet." In reality, we should be looking for solutions that everyone can live with. To attack the President and claim that it's totally his fault is petty. Examine the amount of environmental damage that took place during President Clinton's term! Come on folks - Al Gore is akin to the Pied Piper of Hamiln - let us not be taken in by his threats and dooms-day scenarios - let us instead work methodically and logically towards solutions that will stand the test of time - rather than simply being a passing fad.

Mark, Charlotte, NC, USA

I find Al Gore and climate change about as elevating as a lead zeppelin. If it takes the making of, An Inconvenient Truth, to publicise the condition it can t be that pressing. Inconvenience is not something that gets politicians moving and they tend to shy away from truth. Add the perception level revealed by his comment on George Bush and one could be forgiven for thinking that the Republicans have got themselves a new recruit. Maybe there was more to those chads in Florrida than meets the eye.

Henry Percy, London, UK

The one thing that we know of international diplomacy is that nobody will do anything for free: if the rest of the world advances without the USA then the US will extract something from the rest of the world just for the privilege of getting a signature on a document that they should have signed years before.

John Andrew, London, UK

So Dwight, that's quite some conspiracy happening. None of which is able to be disproved in principle, of course. Is your theory what you call "true science"?

David Lau, Brighton, UK

We are all extremely fortunate that a politician of Gore's stature has been prepared to do what is right, by publicising this serious issue, probably at the expense of his domestic political career in the US. Climate change is the biggest known threat to the future of humanity in general. It is de facto the most important issue for politicians to be cooperating on at the international level.

Speaking as one who works in scientific research, the truly remarkable things about climate change science is the overwhelming level of scientific consensus that has emerged: climate change is happening, and it is largely due to human activity.

Now we need activity of a different sort. There is a great deal of work to be done building the political, regulatory and societal movements that will lead to dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. US policy has been a significant obstacle to progress for the past ten years. But here's optimism for the decade to come!

JEL, Cambridge, England, UK

It doesn't matter as we'll all have been taken up by the Rapture by then anyway.

Paul, London,

Samuel Young, Paris
You are not the only one.

And Steve, London, I assure you that I am very English. And I am far more skeptical about global warming than the average north american. But that is because I have actually read scientific papers and the body of the IPCC reports, and I know how little science there is to support Gore's scaremongering.

You should try reading the source documents instead of the Friends of the Earth press releases that the BBC keeps copy-typing for their "news" programs.

Freddy, London,

Al Gore has been discredited. His pseudo-science is scaremongering that is aimed at the gullible. His motivation is to keep him in the limelight. Exactly why he was given a Nobel Prize must be interpreted. Climate change is with us. Whether or not it is due to mankind's CO2 emissions is still a question yet to be addressed in the true scientific sense. Alas, true science has had to give way to the belief that we in the West are guilty of all sins to the environment because of our standard of living. A guilt-fest indeed, but one which provides research grants to academics who would pay lip-service to the belief, and also an annual income to countless individuals and companies who depend on pseudo-green issues, regardless of whether or not their efforts benefit homo sapiens or other species. Saving the planet has become a substitute religion. For those Greens who wave banners, why not embrace nuclear power? Build and reduce the UK's emissions by 40% in 13 years time? Do it now.

Dwight Vandryver, Stoke on Trent, UK

So I suppose global warming is caused by Al Gore's bladder calls at night time.
Right Cromwell?

Andrew G O'Donnell, Sacramento,, USA/CA

Gore needs to stop politicizing this issue or many may simply lose faith in the actual message of the climate scientists... By simply appealing to the anti-Bush masses, he insults everyone's intelligence. By saying the USA is the sole obstruction, he forgets about the governments of Canada and Japan. By implying that everything will get better after Bush is gone, he forgets that the complexity of the problems are much greater than just one man.

What are we going to do about these polarizing type of politicians that we keep electing? It does not appear that this problem will end in 2008 either.

Robert Miller, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

I'm sorry, but if you believe: a) climate change is an issue that needs to be acted on urgently, preferably in the next two to three years and b) it can only be solved by a government-government level agreement to impose cuts in carbon output on all economies in an equitable manner. and c) that's a diplomatic challenge that makes your average WTO round seem about as as challneging as reaching a global agreement that Nelson Mandela, was, well, quite a good guy.

How exactly do you expect the world's leaders to do it without flying around the world?

I reckon they should do it every month -- Bali, Maldives, Moscow -- who cares? It's going to take a lot of face to face time.

As for Gore -- yeah, he's a bit revolting, but every ounce of pressure that gets put on these guys the better.

veg, Mumbai, India

T

The Bali Conference is a reflection of the inability of the United Nations as a world representative body. The countries that make up the United Nations are the same countries that were at Bali. This whole conference was unnecessary. The United Nations Assembly in New York was the place to have the discussion. The opinions of the governments could have been expressed by the countries UN representatives in a normal debate forum.

The United Nations failed to assert its influence because it is not a truly independent organization. The UN must become a body that the representatives are not selected by governments. They are voted for and selected by the people of each country at elections for the office of that countries representative at the UN. The UN should be financed by all countries, however the representative must be independent from the ruling political system of each country. The world is interested in the right decision not the diplomatic compromise.

Jim Wills, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

T

The Bali Conference is a reflection of the inability of the United Nations as a world representative body. The countries that make up the United Nations are the same countries that were at Bali. This whole conference was unnecessary. The United Nations Assembly in New York was the place to have the discussion. The opinions of the governments could have been expressed by the countries UN representatives in a normal debate forum.

The United Nations failed to assert its influence because it is not a truly independent organization. The UN must become a body that the representatives are not selected by governments. They are voted for and selected by the people of each country at elections for the office of that countries representative at the UN. The UN should be financed by all countries, however the representative must be independent from the ruling political system of each country. The world is interested in the right decision not the diplomatic compromise.

Jim , Brisbane , Australia

Mmmm, I see the usual skeptical comments from north american residents. So much easier to rant at Al Gore than do anything constructive. Do you feel better?

Steve, London, UK

Some people, especially Americans, do not take climate change serious enough by a way of raising conflicting gestures! and this is what makes common sense a joke. I trust we wont reach a point where the real trouble comes by those who believe the last!

Bartholomew , Dar es Salaam,

How many energy saving light bulbs are there in the Al Gore Mansion I wonder or is it only us poor people causing the problem? At the moment it's one centigrade outside so bring on global ASAP.

Cromwell, Leeds, England

Heavyweight is an apt description of him.

Perhaps if Gore stopped preaching and started practicing more would listen to him. Exectly what was the carbon footprint created by everyone flying off to Bali?

Linda, New York City,

What a sanctimonious circus of poseurs. People starve, die of malaria, dysentery - are murdered in their thousands by nightmarish religious crazies - and these puritanical charlatans, no better than alchemists, try to sell us these simple-minded fables of the Mother Nature and her glasshouse. I truly despair.

Steve, Beaconsfield, Québec, Canada

This from the man with the giant house in Nashville who jets all over the world spewing pollution from his private planes. Mr. Gore, you don't speak for this American or this Tennessean. Please stay home, or better yet get a new, smaller home. Until then I am not interested in your pleas for rich countries to give more money to poor countries. Put your money where your mouth is.

Bob, Lexington, TN

Again, the point that six billion inhabitants of Mother Earth all continuously produce small but significant volumes of CO2, never mind oxygen consuming animals, never seems to be mentioned.
And what about China's and India's burgeonng populations, especially when they reach a degree of future affluence with two cars per family ?

Stanley Austin, M.D., Anchorage, Alaska

Whenever I see Al Gore, i feel like throwing up.
Surely, i cannot be the only one?

Samuel Young, Paris, France