Al Gore’s 2006 documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," was an expository film that sought to teach both the informed and uninformed about the realities on anthropogenic climate change. In true science class format, it was structured as an interesting, though somewhat doomsday-esque lecture, that seemed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the climate crisis is our biggest threat as a civilized society. In this light, the documentary was the stepping stone for many toward living a more active lifestyle of caring about the environment and seeking to protect it when it was threatened - it got people wading into the modern climate battle. It inspired activism and awoke the inner activist in others. In fact, it is credited as a major driver of the new environmental movement of the time.

Now, if you’ve not yet had the pleasure of seeing Al Gore’s newest documentary, "An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power," I recommend you see it immediately. If you’ve already seen it, surely you’ve noticed the stark differences in the presentation of both movies: the former focuses on the science of climate change, whereas the latter builds more on this spark of inspirational activism and the power of the people to fight for the Earth. It was not an attempt to convince anyone that humans are dangerous contributors to climate change - it runs on the assumption that viewers are already on board with Gore’s philosophy.

"Truth to Power" centers around the changes that have been made — domestically and abroad — to cater to the needs of the environment, with scenes from cities that have gone 100% renewable (or are in the process of becoming it) and from interviews with Silicon Valley tech companies that specialize in solar power. However, what makes this documentary so special is its inside coverage of the negotiations behind the Paris Agreement. Since Donald Trump has now pulled the United States from it, the landmark achievement of the agreement is hard to take in. Al Gore obviously felt the same way in post-production, as he uses America’s withdrawal as a rallying cry to the masses: fight like your world depends on it, because the world depends on it.

I can still remember the moment I felt the first pang of activism in my heart: in one of my middle school science classes, as a supplement to our learning about greenhouse gasses and climate change, we watched "An Inconvenient Truth." For most of us, it was a shocking wake up call - as much as a middle school kid can experience a wake-up call — about the reality of our species’ destruction of the environment as we know it. Over ten years later, I’m still fighting for the Earth - and you can too. Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project is a hub of information and presentation supplements that anyone can use to educate their surroundings about climate change. 350 connects you to local organizations that are actively fighting for clean energy. Finally, the United Nations has incredible information about climate change and its many impacts across the globe.

With the makeup of the current administration, it’s hard not to feel discouraged. But, as Gore reminds us through his activism, “The will to act is itself a renewable resource.”