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20 Years of Inspiring Climate Leadership and Action

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20 Years of Inspiring Climate Leadership & Action

Twenty years ago – before the term “climate crisis” was even heard outside scientific circles – former Vice President Al Gore got the world talking about global warming with his Academy Award-winning film, “An Inconvenient Truth.”

With concern rising and demand for action spreading rapidly, Vice President Gore invited 50 aspiring world changers to the barn on his family farm to learn more about the crisis – and how they could make a difference. 

The training was the start of The Climate Reality Project – a new kind of organization, committed to inspiring and training leaders to meet the moment and act on climate. Over the next two decades, those first 50 in a barn have grown to become a global network of 4.5 million and a powerful force for change, transforming public understanding of the crisis and propelling bold solutions everywhere from town councils to the United Nations.

How We Meet the Moment

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Truth

Standing for science. Exposing disinformation. 

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Solutions

Showing the way forward. 

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Action

Driving change in every sector. 

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Leadership 

Inspiring and equipping world changers.

20 Years of Expanding a Global Movement

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20 Years of Historic Moments

2006

"An Inconvenient Truth" Marks a Turning Point

An incredible 66% of audience members of Vice President Gore’s Academy Award-winning film reported changing their minds on climate and 74% changed habits.

2006

A World-Changing Movement Begins in a Barn

Following the global phenomenon of “An Inconvenient Truth,” Vice President Gore invites 50 aspiring world changers to the barn on his family farm to learn about the climate crisis and how they can make a difference.

2007-2010

Beginnings of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps

Trainings around the world in Australia, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Spain, the UK and the US began building a global network of leaders.

2008

Media Campaigns Change the Conversation

With momentum building for climate legislation in Congress, Climate Reality created iconic ads to get climate science out of the classroom and into culture, raising public awareness.

2011–2017

24 Hours of Reality

Annual 24 Hours of Reality media events focus the world’s attention on key climate issues for an entire day.

2015

Building Support for the Paris Agreement

Over 1 million people sign the Road to Paris petition telling world leaders, “Take climate action now,” delivered by Vice President Gore at COP 21.

2017

"An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power"

Eleven years after “An Inconvenient Truth,” Vice President Gore returned to screens to sound the alarm once again with “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power.”

2020

Digital Trainings for Global Audiences

During the COVID-19 pandemic, leadership trainings are reimagined for the Zoom era, training over 11,000 new Climate Reality Leaders in 2021 alone.

2022

Calling out Climate Denial

Vice President Gore called out then-World Bank President David Malpass for climate denial, sparking public outcry that accelerated leadership change at the bank.

2019–2025

Accelerating the Clean Energy Transition

Climate Reality Leaders push for policies to accelerate the shift to cheap clean energy in the face of fossil fuel disinformation.

Learn More and Get Connected

If you are a member of the press and would like more information on The Climate Reality Project's 20-year history or are interested in attending the 20th Anniversary events in Nashville, please contact [email protected].