In August Al Gore asked, ‘why there aren’t rings of young people blocking bulldozers and preventing them constructing new coal-fired power plants,’ and a group called the Rainforest Action Network took it to heart.

They recently invited the former Vice-President to join their November 16th protest against coal, and VP Gore is reported to be considering joining the action. His participation and possible arrest would bring international attention to the issue of coal combustion.

Coal’s combustion processes produce the most carbon dioxide of the three fossil fuels, making it one of the main contributors to global warming. Some states are considering a ban on the development of new coal fired plants while Kansas has become the first state to deny a construction permit to such a plant over concerns of C02 emissions.

In Canada, Ontario has promised to shut down all coal fired plants by 2014.