Al Gore Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at Zayed Future Energy Prize 2015

Former US Vice-President to Donate Prize Fund to ‘The Climate Reality Project’ Volunteers

Abu Dhabi - UAE: 20 January, 2015 – Former US Vice President Al Gore has received the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Gore was recognised for his unwavering personal and political commitment to raise international awareness about the dangers of climate change, while reinforcing optimism that the global community can and will successfully tackle the challenge.

Gore received the award from His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at a special awards ceremony, hosted as a part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2015.

The prize is widely recognised as the highest distinction in the field of renewable energy and sustainability. Accepting the award before distinguished members of the international clean-energy community, Gore said, "I am grateful to receive this renowned award. Through the work of the Climate Reality Project, the organisation I founded in 2006, we have helped to change the cultural conversation about the climate crisis, and in doing so, created a new generation of determined activists who are working tirelessly for positive change.

“Though we have made great progress, there is much work yet to be done. We must come together, rise to this challenge and ensure the sustainability and prosperity of human civilization for generations to come." He said.

With the Lifetime Achievement Award, Gore becomes the newest addition to the Zayed Future Energy Prize alumni, which he describes as “an impressive group.”

His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, director-general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said: “Al Gore has been one of the most influential figures in the history of climate change negotiations. As an activist and environmentalist, he has played a pivotal role in putting climate change at the forefront of the global political agenda.”

“His pioneering efforts have created a major shift in the global energy industry – accelerating the development and adoption of renewable energy technologies across the world,” said Al Jaber. “Raising awareness of climate change and helping promote possible solutions, including renewable energy technology, are accomplishments with far-reaching benefits – efforts which this prize is designed to recognize.”

Gore’s first action as an ambassador will be to donate the US$500,000 prize to the volunteers of The Climate Reality Project, which trains activists to speak publicly about the effects of climate change and ways to address it. Gore established this initiative in 2006 and has since trained more than 4,000 volunteers to deliver 70,000 presentations to more than 7 million people around the world.

“The Zayed Future Energy Prize provides much-needed encouragement and validation to people who are doing good work that benefits the future of human kind. In this case, it will help empower all the volunteers that we have trained to build greater awareness, raise consciousness and speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy,” said Gore.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize is a US$ 4 million award that recognises and rewards innovators in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability. The Prize is a part of the UAEs vision and commitment to finding solutions that will meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and the environment.