Gore describes his plan for reducing carbon emissions by investing in clean, renewable energy sources as “the lynchpin of a bold new strategy needed to re-power America.” Naysaying bloggers bit back that Gore’s speech was simply “empty rhetoric with unachievable goals” and cite biofuel’s descent from media eco-darling to scapegoat as proof that pushing through new eco-technology without proper consideration is just plain irresponsible. Never mind that real environmentalists tried to warn of biofuels’ many drawbacks early on.

Though Big Al’s speech was admittedly a little light on details, we think the overly-critical Scrooges are missing the point—Gore has never once advocated using renewable energy technologies at any cost. What he has said is that the first step in solving the climate change crisis involves America picking up its right foot and placing it in front of the left before it’s too late. For decades, nations have looked to the US for leadership, and while they wait, holding their breath and hoping that we’ll begin to tackle climate change, the president cracks jokes and the Environmental Protection Agency shoves off its responsibility to protect the earth to Congressmen that have their hands tied by big business. Meanwhile, Gore offers solutions, like a carbon tax that would allow us to “tax what we burn, not what we earn,” a step that may just lead us down the right path in solving the climate crisis.

Though Gore’s constant speeches about global warming can seem a bit much at times, we’ll take the nagging calls to action over the lame-duck response any day.  If only the current president were so bold.