More and more people seem to notice that Al Gore is making huge amounts of money while peddling fear of global warming. And he's just getting started. The prospects of serious wealth are unlimited should his recent affiliation with Silicon Valley venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins bring about regulatory advantage or public subsidy for schemes to trade carbon emissions, subsidize  supposedly-green energy projects, or otherwise capitalize on the world's need for massive quantities of energy.

Al Gore has come under fire for making personal gain from his mission to save the planet - after charging £3,300 a minute to deliver a poorly received speech.

The former American Vice-President was also accused of being "precious" at the London event, demanding his own VIP room and ejecting journalists, despite hopes the star-studded gathering would generate publicity for the fight against global warming.

Many of the audience at last month's Fortune Forum summit were restless as Mr Gore, who has won both a Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar for his campaigning work this year, delivered the half-hour speech that netted him £100,000.