Climate Change Awareness Increases with Extreme Weather Conditions

Former Vice-President Al Gore firmly believes that the latest extreme weather events, such as Typhoon Haiyan and Hurricane Sandy, are an immediate cause for concern in the realm of climate change.

"I think that these extreme weather events, which are now a hundred times more common than 30 years ago are really waking people's awareness all over the world [on climate-change], and I think that is a game-changer," said Gore while speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, via a report from The Guardian.

Gore is also confident that the climate change issue can be tackled due to the falling prices of solar and wind power.

"In 13 countries, the price of solar is cheaper than or equal to the [electricity] grid average price, said Gore, via The Guardian. "It is very impressive and it is opening up great opportunities for the world to solve climate change."

But Gore wasn't the only high profile individual speaking at the forum. Bill Gates also acknowledged the importance of the issue and believes that there is an awareness problem concerning climate change. Gates reiterated that since the issues of climate change and development are interlinked, the focus should not be more prevalent on either individual subject because it is a collective issue. He also warned of the dangers of growing prosperity, because as more people begin to afford new uses of energy, it is paramount that the energy is generated in a clean way or else the current state of affairs will worsen dramatically.

"As the poorest are being lifted up, as they're getting lights and refrigerators, we are going to use more energy," said Gates, in an article from The Guardian. "We have to make the energy we use not emit any greenhouse gases, particularly CO2."

And in order for these goals to be fulfilled, Gore believes that more businesses need to show leadership on the subject matter, along with support from the government. Gore may get his wish come September, when world leaders will discuss tackling climate change in New York led by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.