Professor Joseph Stiglitz and Al Gore

Joseph Stiglitz is a renown professor. Like most of the speakers at World Business Forum, he has authored a few books including Free Fall.

His session was a Q and A style. He is answering semi-political questions about the stimulus program.

He said "we need to retrofit ourselves for global warming"

"We are destroying our human capital".

"The new normal will be much higher levels of unemployment."

"It is not the interest rate that stimulates growth, it is availability of capital"

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Al Gore spoke. Of course a lot about the environment. He emphasized the danger of an energy policy that encourages dependence on middle east oil. His suggestion is security and carbon are closely connected.

As our population moves from 2 Billion to 9 Billion over the next 40 years, our planet will be increasingly taxed. He sees a need to dampen that by education and empowerment of women.

He also spoke of the need for jobs. His suggestion that we can put people to work by moving more strongly into energy alternatives.

Some Quotes:

"a humans we confuse the impossible with the improbable. If it has not happened in the past it will not happen in the future."

"I am a big believer in business and capitalism"

"burning of coal is the largest contributor to global warming. Oil and gas are second"

"2010 so far is the hottest year in history since temperatures have been recorded. The number of all time highs is unprecedented"

" US consumes more oil products than the next 20 consuming countries combined"

"water level rising at 1 cm per decade with the threat of meter plus rises to come"

"China is number one in solar and wind"

"we are entering a period of consequences" (regarding the environment)

Of course he is a good speaker. He is also a consummate politician.