Al Gore was our 42nd ex-vice president under President Bill Clinton (serving from 1993 to 2001), and a Tennessee Congressman (serving from 1977 to 1993). He was also the Democratic presidential nominee in the 2000 Presidential Election, in which he decisively won the popular vote yet ultimately lost the presidency to George W. Bush in a final and highly controversial Supreme Court decision. And two Fridays ago, on Oct. 12, Mr. Gore received the Nobel Peace Prize for his vigorous efforts to solve the world climate crisis. Quite a resume, I must admit.

But are we actually in a ‘global climate crisis?’

According to Mr. Gore, the culprit of his ‘world climate crisis’ is obviously greenhouse gas emissions.

According to the National Energy Information Center (eia.doe.gov), greenhouse gases are the certain gases in Earth’s atmosphere that let sunlight in but then prevent it from leaving. A few examples include: water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide and methane.

So what exactly is happening? Basically an overflow of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is regulated by the carbon cycle ‘ numerous processes (such as photosynthesis) that are able to dominate and break down the ‘flux’ of carbon. However, anthropogenic (meaning human-induced) carbon dioxide emissions that are produced annually from petroleum and natural gas (fossil fuels) are significantly higher than what nature can handle. And so, the world-wide concentration of greenhouse gases is increasing 1.9 percent (3.2 billion metric tons) year after year.

Before the Industrial Revolution in the good old days when there were no iPhones or Ferraris, but people of integrity and classic horse-drawn carriages, the anthropogenic CO2 emissions were close to zero, hence, no ‘global crisis.’ Yet technology hit, and now 150 years later with planes, cars and trucks, carriers, tankers, submarines and Long Island Soccer Mom SUVs, the resulting grime has gotten too large for Earth’s natural toothbrush.

What are the future implications of burning more fossil fuels (i.e. driving more, flying more, maintaining our world-leading military, assisting under-developed countries)? In short: global warming, or the rising of temperatures worldwide.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web site reveals that since the late 19th century, some parts of the globe (counting the south-eastern United States) have surprisingly cooled, yet globally, temperatures have risen 0.6 degrees Celsius with 1998 and 2001 being the first and second warmest years on record respectively. Glaciers are indeed receding and arctic sea ice is melting which is further causing ocean levels to rise (one to two millimeters a year).

Two-thirds of a degree? One millimeter? Yes those numbers are truly quite small. In fact, those of you who are living (and who can also read this article) will not be affected by any more increases in greenhouse gas emissions.

Nevertheless, looking toward the future, controversial climate models predict a further global temperature increase of 5.8 degrees Celsius before the year 2100. Now that is a lot (do the conversion).

This means far warmer ocean waters, ensuing in far more severe hurricanes and other natural disasters, besides other possibly catastrophic effects. And if we cannot find the means to deal with the consequences of our irrational love for big trucks, then our only other alternative is to keenly listen and do that which Mr. Gore kindly requests of us. Personally I’m going to start by downloading and watching ‘An Inconvenient Truth.’

In the end, Al Gore is right and deserves his Nobel Prize ‘ we are not in a crisis, but our children and the future of this world will undoubtedly be.