Gore urges Congress to pass new green deal

Al Gore testified before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations this week, urging Congress to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 as a key stepping stone towards active participation in the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen this December.

"The plan is unprecedented and critical investment in four key areas – energy efficiency, renewables, a unified national energy grid and the move to clean cars – represents an important down payment and is long overdue," he said. He also urged Congress to pass a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions.

"The US will regain its credibility and enter the Copenhagen treaty talks with a renewed authority to lead the world in shaping a fair and effective treaty," added Gore.

Copenhagen will be a pivotal event, at which it is hoped United Nations members will be able to thrash out an international climate change policy to be implemented after 2012, which is when the Kyoto accord's commitment period expires.

The Act, which was passed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday, now awaits approval by the Senate. The House of Representatives version carved out $2bn (£1.4bn) for renewable energy and energy-efficiency projects, including $800m for biomass technology and $400m for geothermal.

Some $6.2bn was set aside for the weatherisation assistance programme, and $1bn has also been reserved for advanced battery development.

Earlier this week, a US study suggested that climate change would be largely irreversible for the next thousand years.