Review by Frankie Gogler
Following the great success of its predecessor An Inconvenient Truth (2006), Al Gore takes on the climate crisis over a decade later in An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power. The film informs those who may be unaware of Al Gore’s political history as the Vice President of America. Succeeding the loss of his 2000 presidential bid, Gore commenced tackling Global Warming and Climate Change from a different angle, becoming the face and public target of this global issue. This film notes the many controversial predictions made in An Inconvenient Truth that have occurred. The documentary, directed by Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk, then takes us on a somewhat chronological journey since the last film.
An Inconvenient Sequel gives evidence of global warming and climate change through impactful imagery of rising sea levels, glaciers melting and the increase in storm weather occurrence across the world. There is also extensive footage of Al Gore travelling around the globe to host his Climate Reality Leadership Corps Training; in order to empower other likeminded activists and give them the knowledge needed to create change. Al Gore discusses his innovative proposal of the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite, able to collate data on atmospheric changes and emissions. Unfortunately it was stripped of almost all of its climatological functions before being put into storage; however, under the Obama administration, DSOVR satellite was able to come into fruition. A large proportion of the documentary details Gore’s involvement in the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, which resulted in the now devastated climate accord promising the dramatic reduction in Greenhouse Emissions. An Inconvenient Sequel promotes solar energy and renewables, which have proven to be economically viable and of benefit to developing countries such as India, even with much dispute. Al Gore remains optimistic despite the current global political situation and its detrimental impact on this cause, stating that it is just another bump in the road to progress.
The ascendance of President Trump to power and his removal of the United States from the Paris Agreement, could do An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power a huge favour in terms of positive publicity and box office statistics globally. Even if the political situation in the US were different, this documentary would still be an even bigger success than the first. Similar points are made in this film as were made in An Inconvenient Truth a decade ago, but with more impact – Global Warming is no myth and there is no time for political debate, only action. You do not have to be an advocate for environmental sustainability and renewables to go see this film, and you certainly do not have to be a know-it-all when it comes to Global Warming and the Climate Crisis to enjoy it. I found this documentary educational, alarming, empowering and motivating, and well worth the 98 minutes running time. An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power is showing in cinemas nationally from 10th August 2017.
Score 8/10
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