CNN LARRY KING LIVE INTERVIEW WITH AL GORE
Larry King Live
November 15, 2009

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT:

CNN.com - Transcripts

EXCERPT:

KING: We'll return now to the environment. We've got a number of variations
on this question Tweeted to Kingsthings. Do you Twitter?

GORE: Yes, I do.

KING: Oh, my gosh. OK.

(LAUGHTER)

Ask Mr. Gore why, if he cares about the environment, he isn't a vegetarian?
PETA, we know, has been pushing you about this.

GORE: Yes.

KING: Saying eating meat is bad for the planet.

GORE: Yes. Well, first of all, the growing meat intensity of diets around
the world is bad for the planet. They have a good point there. And the
factory farming the way so much of our livestock is raised now is very bad
for the planet, no question about it.

I've cut back on the amount of meat that I eat, largely for health reasons,
but also because of the fact that it is -- it does have an impact on the
environment, but I don't plan to become a vegetarian.

KING: Because you like meat.

GORE: Well, yes, and although I will say that the more meals I've
substituted with more fruits and vegetables, the better I feel about it.

KING: Good, good.

GORE: But I do like to have meat from time to time. And I think having a
good source of protein -- and you can get it other ways. I don't want to
start an argument. But that's just my personal choice, and I think that
everybody will make that choice.

But those who raise this issue do have a legitimate point to make. And as
other countries around the world begin to emulate the U.S. diet, the impact
of meat-intensive diet is a significant factor.