Gore bags half a Nobel Peace Prize

Al Gore, climate change campaigner and former US vice-president, has won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. Big Al shares it with scientists at the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Nobel Committee selected the eco-friendly pair "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change."

The committee had high praise for Gore, describing him as the most influential greenie on the planet: "His strong commitment, reflected in political activity, lectures, films and books, has strengthened the struggle against climate change. He is probably the single individual who has done most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted."

So what exactly does the Peace Prize have to do with man-made climate change? As the Nobel Committee explains, one result of a globally warmed world may be "increased danger of violent conflicts and wars, within and between states."

In a statement, Gore said he was "deeply honoured" to win and will be donating the prize money to The Alliance for Climate Protection. IPCC's chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, added he would "like to pay tribute to the scientific community, who are the winners of this award."

All Gore needs to do now is find room for the award on his mantlepiece -- he's already bagged an Oscar and an Emmy this year.

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