The former vice president of the United States, Al Gore, has urged the global wine industry to act immediately to tackle climate change.

Delivering the keynote address at the World Congress of Climate Change & Wine in Barcelona earlier this year, Mr Gore spoke passionately about climate change, the impact of carbon dioxide on the planet and the environmental challenges facing the wine industry.

“The wine industry really must respond to this crisis — it is here now and the crisis is growing,” he said.

“However, the worst impacts of the climate crisis can be avoided if we begin to act quickly.”

The two-day conference, the second organised by the Wine Academy of Spain, attracted 350 participants from more than 40 countries.

Among the audience were prominent winemakers, scientists, growers and industry executives from the world’s leading wine-producing countries including France, Spain, Germany, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

During his presentation Mr Gore congratulated those who had made the effort to attend the conference and encouraged them to spread the climate change message throughout the wine industry.

He also praised Wine Academy of Spain president Pancho Campo for raising awareness of climate change within the industry and the leadership he has shown on the issue.

Mr Gore gave examples of wineries that were playing their part in reducing greenhouse emissions by adopting environmentally friendly practices and becoming carbon neutral enterprises. However he warned that such initiatives needed to be implemented on a large scale worldwide.

The Nobel Peace Prize recipient also answered questions on issues as varied as carbon sequestration, the economic and social implications of climate change, renewable energy and measures governments and companies can put in place in order to fight and adapt to global warming.

Amorim made a significant contribution to the conference as both a major sponsor and participant in the speaking program that comprised more than a dozen presentations by experts from different fields within the industry.

The speakers explained the nature of climate change, its impact on agriculture and more specifically its effect on vines and the options available to growers and winemakers.

Other presentations examined the carbon dioxide emissions generated during wine production and the various ways wineries can reduce their carbon footprint including carbon dioxide capture and storage.

International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) president Peter Hayes outlined the organisation’s plans to fight climate change and raise awareness of environmental issues throughout the industry.

Amorim’s director of marketing and communications Carlos de Jesus delivered an address titled ‘Natural Cork — a wine industry contribution to sustainability’.

The presentation outlined cork’s performance on sustainability grounds and explained how cork oak forests retain some 14 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Corticeira Amorim chairman and CEO António Amorim said he was pleased the company could contribute to the World Congress of Climate Change & Wine.

“We were very keen to be involved in this event as part of our efforts to preserve the environment and promote sustainable development,” he said.

“The cork oak ecosystems of the Mediterranean play an important role in combating climate change and as the leader in the industrial cork business we have a responsibility to ensure those forests continue to play that role.

“One way we can do that is by explaining and demonstrating the natural qualities of cork and its crucial role in carbon dioxide retention, preserving biodiversity and combating desertification.”

For further information on the second World Congress of Climate Change & Wine including copies of presentations and videos of some of the addresses visit www.climatechangeandwine.com