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Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-572-3378 or 202-210-5791 (cell)

(Washington – October 12) Environmental Defense today applauded former Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for receiving this year’s Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of their efforts to raise public awareness and understanding of the global climate change crisis, and the Nobel committee for recognizing the threats it poses to security and stability around the world.
 
“The former Vice President has done a remarkable job of bringing focus and understanding to the challenges of global warming,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp. “It would be great to see the U.S. Congress nominated next year for taking on the problem and passing comprehensive climate legislation.”
 
Former Vice President Gore’s book and Oscar-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” have helped put climate change in the spotlight for the American public and secure its place at the forefront of U.S. policy priorities. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has spearheaded important international efforts to provide comprehensive and up-to-date assessments of the current state of knowledge on climate change
 
Congress now has the opportunity to make the U.S. a leader on climate change by harnessing the unprecedented momentum for strong policies to cap and cut greenhouse gas emissions.
 
“After Al Gore stands on the stage in Oslo to receive his award, I think the American public will turn to the leaders of both parties in the U.S. Congress to see where they stand. The scientific evidence that the former vice president and the IPCC have helped drive home tells us there’s no consolation prize for Congress if it fails to act,” Krupp said.

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships. With more than 3 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries to turn our solutions into action. Connect with us on Twitter @EnvDefenseFund