Earth in the Balance (book)
"Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit," published by Al Gore in 1992, is a seminal work that addresses the urgent environmental crises facing the planet. Written during a pivotal time in Gore's political career, the book combines insights from history, science, technology, and spirituality to highlight the interconnectedness of human life and the natural world. Gore presents a stark analysis of global ecological degradation and advocates for immediate, meaningful action by governments and individuals to prevent catastrophic consequences.
Throughout the book, he emphasizes the importance of transitioning away from nonrenewable fossil fuels and the preservation of critical ecosystems, such as rain forests and wetlands. The public response to the book was polarized, with many lauding its visionary ideas while others dismissed Gore's warnings as exaggerated. Despite the criticism, "Earth in the Balance" contributed significantly to raising awareness about environmental issues, paving the way for broader discussions and actions regarding climate change. By the end of the 1990s, many of Gore's concerns had been validated by the scientific community, further cementing the book's impact on the global environmental movement. The concepts introduced by Gore have since influenced popular culture and policy, making "going green" a widely recognized ethos.
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Subject Terms
Earth in the Balance (book)
Identification Environmental book
Author Al Gore (1948- )
Date Published in 1992
Initially derided as a politically far-left liberal fallacy, Gore’s book drew worldwide attention to the damage done by human beings to the environment and ecosystems of the planet.
Public reaction to Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit ranged from ecstatic approval to ridicule and derision of the views presented by then Tennessee senator Al Gore. First published in 1992, the book became a New York Timesbest seller. Gore received a great deal of praise from environmentally conscious readers around the world. Others mocked Gore as “Ozone Al” and his book as an exaggeration of global environmental damage.
Earth in the Balance was written after Gore lost a 1988 bid to become president and prior to being inaugurated vice president in January, 1993, with President Bill Clinton. Critics and admirers alike were stunned and impressed that a man as politically motivated as Gore would write a book as controversial as Earth in the Balance while still hoping for elected office. Though his record as a devout environmentalist was one reason Clinton chose Gore, the Clinton administration’s policies on environmental protection were largely rhetorical and token, rather than proactive and meaningful.
In his book, Gore covered the devastation of the global environment, how it got that way, and what will happen if effective solutions are not enacted by world governments and citizens. Gore painted a very dire picture for the future of the planet if environmental and ecological damage is not considered an urgent priority. A main theme of the book is the connection between human spirituality and the environment. Public reaction to this thesis also ranged from mockery to reasoned acceptance of the interconnectedness of humans and their habitat.
Gore implored all nations to refrain from the destruction of rain forests and wetlands and from reliance on nonrenewable fossil fuels. He urged a global shift toward ecologically friendly practices. Acknowledging the financial burden such a radical change would engender, Gore countered that replacing outmoded technology and industries with environmentally friendly alternatives would create jobs for designers and engineers, builders, scientists, and laborers—virtually all job categories and capital markets—and would actually improve the world economy.
The book incorporated history, science, technology, and spirituality. By the end of the 1990’s, the environmental issues discussed in the book were validated by mainstream science and accepted by many as a fact of modern life. Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 “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.”
Impact
Earth in the Balance and its famous author turned a spotlight on environmental issues in ways that a lesser-known personality could not have done. “Going green” became a popular motto and concept, in large part because of Earth in the Balance, as well as An Inconvenient Truth (2006) and its Academy Award-winning documentary version.
Bibliography
Gore, Al. Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit. 1992. Reprint. Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Press, 2006.
‗‗‗‗‗‗‗. An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do About It. Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Press, 2006.
Kolbert, Elizabeth. Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Changes. New York: Bloomsbury, 2006.