The Nobel Peace Prize Leaurats of 2007, Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, represented by its chairman, R. K. Pachauri, were honoured at a ceremony at the Oslo City Hall on 10 December.
02/03/2008 :: “We have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst - though not all - of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly,” said Peace Prize winner Al Gore in his speech. Later in the evening, Oslo residents honoured the winners with a torchlight procession through the capital.
The prestigious prize is being shared this year by Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change.
Science and public awareness
“While the IPCC has laid the scientific foundations for our knowledge about climate change, Al Gore is in the opinion of the Norwegian Nobel Committee the single individual who has done most to prepare the ground for the political action that is needed to counteract climate change,” said the chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjøs.
Action now
“Neglect in protecting our heritage of natural resources could prove extremely harmful for the human race and for all species that share common space on planet earth,” said IPCC’s R. K. Pachauri.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee is seeking to contribute to a sharper focus on the processes and decisions that appear to be necessary to protect the world’s future climate, and thereby to reduce the threat to the security of mankind. Action is necessary now, before climate change moves beyond man’s control.
Nobel Peace Prize
The Nobel Peace Prize was first awarded in Norway in 1901. On 10 December every year, the winner is presented with the prize, which comprises a gold medal, diploma and sum of money, at a formal ceremony at the Oslo City Hall.
The Nobel Peace Prize Leaurats of 2007. Photo: Pierre de Brisis/ MFA Norway.
Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs