The annual Nobel Prizes are currently being announced. Last week, the highly anticipated Nobel Peace Prize revealed its winners: former US Vice President Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a subsidiary of the United Nations. This outcome was hardly surprising. One can imagine that the threat posed by global climate change is far greater than war or human-made disasters for humanity’s future existence. This has become a prerequisite for humanity to carry forward the torch of civilization and sustain life on Earth. Natural environments and resources are not inexhaustible. Since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has been consuming, degrading, destroying, and wasting natural resources in large quantities, failing to cherish, recycle, or renew them. Prompted by warnings of global warming, environmental awareness began to emerge in the late twentieth century. As the new century dawned, consciousness regarding environmental protection, nature conservation, and resource renewal gradually rose. Protecting the natural environment and preserving the Earth have become the greatest global challenges of the new era.

In the promotion of environmental protection and resource renewal, former US Vice President Al Gore stands out as the most prestigious, active, vibrant, and media-savvy figure. (The UN’s IPCC is less well-known to the public, although numerous international organizations are also involved in promoting and building these initiatives.) Fortunately, thanks to Al Gore’s fame and tireless enthusiasm, he has traveled globally to advocate for the climate change and threats concerning humanity’s future prospects. His impactful film, An Inconvenient Truth, further influenced the world by widely raising awareness of the severe threats of global warming and environmental change, awakening global environmental consciousness and highlighting the climatic conditions necessary for human survival. This year, the Nobel Peace Prize recognized the great contributions of Al Gore and the UN’s IPCC in advocating against human-caused climate change, laying the foundation and constructing possibilities for the future natural environment. Al Gore stated, “I am honored to share this prize with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which gives this award even greater significance. It is a world-leading scientific organization dedicated to strengthening our understanding of the climate crisis. Its members have worked selflessly and tirelessly for many years.” He continued, “We are facing a true emergency for our planet. The climate crisis is not a political issue, but a challenge to all human conscience and spirit. It is also a tremendous opportunity for us to build a global consensus on crisis.”

The greatest lesson brought by the Nobel Peace Prize is the elevation of environmental awareness in today’s globalization, becoming a new revolution that pushes humanity to protect the natural environment, recycle, and renew resources, thereby saving the Earth. This is the path for humanity to maintain peace and forge ahead. Coincidentally, France held a grand environmental conference (Le Grenelle de l’environnement) this month. Under the presidency of Jean-Louis Borloo, Minister of Ecology and Sustainable Development, all French environmental and ecological groups, scholars, and experts gathered to discuss plans to “reform the environment and save the Earth.” Notably, French citizens could directly participate in discussions on protecting the living environment via the internet. A poll showed rising environmental awareness in France: 49% of respondents were optimistic about the conference, and 93% believed they were ready to practice concrete actions such as environmental protection and energy recycling in their daily lives. Recently, people have seen unprecedented developments in solar energy exploration, green oil research, wind and hydroelectric power generation, geothermal development, resource recycling and renewal, carbon dioxide reduction, afforestation and forest protection, fallow land conservation, river restoration, wildlife protection, polar climate research, reduced pesticide use, water resource maintenance, and changes in lifestyle and consumption attitudes. These indicate that a new century reform is underway.

Furthermore, the practice of environmental awareness among villagers of this global village means that saving the Earth begins with simple behaviors in our daily lives, such as garbage sorting and recycling, turning off home appliances like TVs and computers at night, buying seasonal fruits and vegetables, and using public transportation when going out. These are the best demonstrations of sustainable development. This environmental peace revolution constructs a new world for the future through our simple actions. All of this will be blessed by the dedication of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates. A global revolution is unfolding within our daily lives.