Reisfeld 1

Daniel Reisfeld
Professor Landrus
English 101
20 October, 2015
Al Gores Speech on Renewable Energy
Have you ever thought of where all the energy comes from that powers all of the daily
activities you complete? Everyday humans use an abundance of energy and have little to no idea
the effects that the energy has on the world. Most recently carbon based fuels, the leading energy
source, has been shunned by environmentalists due to the negative effects that it has on the
environment. Al Gore, in a speech he delivered on renewable energy, displayed his idea for the
United States to be carbon-based fuel free in ten years and relying on only renewable energy. Al
Gore is a former United States Vice President and an environmentalist. In his speech, Gore uses
pathos, kairos, logos, and calls for policy in order to effectively persuade listeners that the time is
now for renewable energy sources to overtake carbon based fuels and become the sole provider
of energy in the United States.
Before the persuasive techniques of the author can be explained, it is important to first
discuss the rhetorical situation of the speech. Gore explains in the speech that there are many
problems in the United States, but he believes a solution to them is by converting all energy to
renewable resources. Gore addresses all of the American people in the speech by drawing them
in with all of the issues in the United States that exist at the time of the speech. Gore uses the
word we to display that everyone is in this together and it is not just a few people who decide
what will happen to the country. By explaining the situation and the problems and risks that are

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at stake, Gore is able to draw the audience in, allowing him to then call for action on how the
United States should stop relying on carbon based fuels. This call for action makes the listeners
of the speech feel responsible and part of the solution to solve the problem.
Throughout the entire speech Gore used pathos to appeal to the emotions of those who
were listening to his speech and ethos to appeal to their credibility. This especially occurs at the
beginning of the speech when Gore states the situation, The survival of the United States of
America as we know it is at risk. And even more - if more should be required - the future of
human civilization is at stake. This statement causes readers to become nervous and put their
life into perspective. By putting this statement at the end of the first paragraph, Gore
incorporated pathos by appealing to citizens responsibility. He is able to ensure that his audience
feels a personal connection to the topic as he relates it back to them. Gore continues to hand
normal civilians responsibility when he says, this is just the beginning unless we find the
courage to make some major changes quickly. Hearing this quote, makes the reader feel
responsibility for the actions they take. The word we establishes ethos by including the
American citizens and appealing to credibility. This connects readers with the situation and
makes them feel that they are part of the group that needs to make the changes. The use of pathos
and ethos connect the reader more closely to the issue and make them feel responsibility for what
is going on.
Gore takes advantage of capitalizing on the timing of making his argument through the
use of kairos. At the time of the speech, the United States was going through a variety of issues
and had an election on the horizon in the upcoming months. As a result, Gore was able to
mention the issues occurring and relate them back to his argument. In the speech Gore stated, I
don't remember a time in our country when so many things seemed to be going so wrong

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simultaneously The climate crisis, in particular, is getting a lot worse. Gore explains that the
situation at hand is catastrophic, especially the climate crisis. This allows Gore to introduce his
argument that renewable energy is a solution to the problems. Later on in the speech Gore does
this by stating that, all of these complex problems begin to unravelThe answer is to end our
reliance on carbon-based fuels. As a result, Gore is able to illustrate kairos as he works with the
timeliness of the situation created by these problems, constructing his thesis that ending
dependence from carbon-based fuels will lead to how the United States problems will be solved.
In order to present his argument further, Gore employs appeals to logos to support his
claim. By supplying facts and statistics to his listeners, Gore is able to provide strong evidence
and support to his argument. One example of this is when he discusses the expenditure of money
on oil, we send money to foreign countries to buy nearly 70 percent of the oil we use every
day they build new skyscrapers and we lose jobs. When we spend that money building solar
arrays and windmills, we build competitive industries and gain jobs here at home (Gore). Gore
uses this to explain that if renewable energy is produced in the United States, jobs will be created
with the money that is not spent buying oil. This also relates back to the economic issues going
on at the time as not only is Gore providing a solution for renewable energy but also providing a
solution to the economic and job market crisis. Gore is better able to effectively persuade readers
and listeners that his solution will help more than just the problem of the climate by scaffolding
his argument with both logos and kairos.
Toward the end of the speech Gore implores a calls to action regarding what should be
done to solve the problems that exist. Gore rallies people by saying, So I ask you to join with
me accept this challenge - for America to be running on 100 percent zero-carbon electricity in
10 years. This call to action entices people to latch on to the solution. After already enticing the

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audience and relating them to the issue, he is offering them a way to act now. By asking people
to accept his challenge he is rallying them to become more involved and help fight his cause.
Furthermore, Gore discusses the importance and severity of the issue when he discusses, This is
a generational moment. A moment when we decide our own path and our collective fate. I'm
asking you - each of you - to join me and build this future. By saying this Gore is telling people
that this is an important time and that if people join him they will have a huge impact on the
world. As a result, Gore is able to effectively use a call to action to help listeners and readers join
him in his views.
The speech ends with a final example of pathos in which Gore relates the one hundred
percent conversion to renewable energy sources to when man first landed on the moon in 1969.
This is done by Gore stating, Once again, we have an opportunity to take a giant leap for
humankind. After listening to this statement a reader will now feel connected with the task that
is at hand for the conversion to renewable energy. People who experienced or are educated on the
moon landing know the level of work and dedication that went into it. By comparing the moon
landing with his goal, Gore allows listeners and readers to see that the challenge he set out is
possible. This appeal to pathos makes readers and listeners feel that the change is possible and
that they should get involved and help the solution become reality.
Throughout the speech Gore is able to implement many rhetorical strategies that help
convince others of his argument for renewable energy. Gore uses pathos in the beginning and end
of the speech to both help make the reader feel more invested and then to make the reader feel
that change is possible, in which they can be part of. Kairos is used as it allows Gore to give
more emphasis to his issue by explaining that his issue will lead to the resolution of other issues.
Gore also employs logos to prevent evidence and make his argument credible to skeptics and

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critiques that may not support his views. Finally, a call to action is used to streamline the
audience into getting involved and making a difference on the issue at hand. Therefore, using the
rhetorical strategies present in the speech, Gore is able to persuade others of his argument that an
end to the dependence on carbon-based fuels is not only the answer to societal problems, but also
possible through everyone working together and participating in this effort.

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Work Cited
Gore, Al. Green Energy By 2018. Washington D.C. 17 July 2008. Keynote Speech.