An Inconvenient Truth
An Inconvenient Truth opens in Australia on 14 Sep 2006
Ever wondered how carbon dioxide emissions cause global warming? Finding it hard to picture what the impacts of climate change will mean?
You may have heard that as Australians, we are the highest per-capita greenhouse gas polluters in the world, because most of our electricity comes from burning coal. What this does to our environment is well known to scientists, but it's often hard to understand or visualise. A new film, An Inconvenient Truth, clarifies the science and illuminates the impacts of climate change, and is likely to be showing at a cinema near you.
For the past five years Al Gore, former Vice President of the United States and one-time presidential candidate, has been touring the U.S. and countries around the world presenting to audiences on the science and impacts of global warming. The roadshow is the focus of the film, which opens in Australia on 14 Sep 2006 (list of cinemas showing the film).
The film was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006, receiving a standing ovation following its world premiere at the festival. Far from a dry documentary about a PowerPoint slideshow, the film visually expands on the excellent visuals from the presentation and provides background on Gore's background and motivations. It closes by outlining a number of ways that each of us can make a difference in the fight to avoid climate change.
Participant Productions, the film's producers, have also committed to making the film "carbon neutral" - that is they are using "carbon offsets", like those provided by Climate Friendly, to neutralise the carbon dioxide emitted in the making and promotion of the film.
With scientists telling us that not only is global warming real but it is happening far faster than previously thought, Gore's message is timely and important.
Movie trailer
How you can help
An Inconvenient Truth presents an important message and the impact of that message is amplified with every person that sees the film. Consider going to see the film and taking along a friend, family member or workmate as well.
A list of suggestions about how you can reduce your impact on climate change appear at the end of the film, and are also available on the movie's website. Check out the suggestions and work out how you can make a difference in your personal life.
Other ways that you can help include:
- Join our petition: demand firm targets and timetables for the reduction of greenhouse pollution.
- Switch to Green Power: If all Australians switched to clean, renewable energy today, Australia's total greenhouse pollution would be cut by 30%. That's the equivalent of what's pumped out by more than 40 million cars!
- Support WWF: so we can continue our work on important environmental issues such as climate change.
- Become a Futuremaker: take the first step towards securing a sustainable future for our planet. Find out how individual steps can collectively make a big difference.
Related Links
- Read the factsheet: Australia's Inconvenient Truth to find out what impact climate change will have on Australia.
- ClimateCrisis.net - the movie's official website
- The Internet Movie Database entry for the movie.
- A list of cinemas that will be screening the film. Check your local guides closer to the launch date 14 Sep 2006 for specific show times.
- Scientists for the US-based National Snow and Ice Data Center discuss the science behind the film.
- National Geographic: Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth" Movie: Fact or Hype?
