UNDP to Support Al Gore's Live Earth Concert in Shanghai

UNDP to Support Al Gore's Live Earth Concert in Shanghai

June 19, 2007

Concerts for a Climate in Crisis

    SHANGHAI, June 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- As part of its
efforts to catalyze action in response to climate change,
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will join
forces with environmental advocate/former U.S. Vice
President Al Gore to support the globe-spanning 24-hour
Live Earth concert series on July 7, 2007.

    (Logo:
http://www.xprn.com.cn/xprn/sa/20061107113358-34.jpg )

    "The issue of climate change is often viewed as a
remote subject to the everyday person, a problem far
removed from their day to day life and a matter that should
be handled by world leaders. It is time to change that
perception," said Renaud Meyer, Deputy Country
Director of UNDP China during the press conference held
today to announce the Live Earth concert in Shanghai. 

    "It is our common responsibility to take action
and answer the call on climate change to protect our
planet. The Live Earth concert provides an important
platform to raise awareness on climate change at the
individual, community, country and international
level," he added.
    
    Live Earth, designed to trigger a mass movement to
respond to the climate crisis, strives to set a new global
standard in coordinated action. With more than 100
headliners performing live on all seven continents and
being broadcast globally through television, radio, web,
wireless and other media platforms, the concerts will
inspire an audience of more than two billion people
worldwide to make meaningful and lasting changes in their
lives to turn the tide on global warming. 

    Live Earth's proceeds and the audience it engages will
support a new campaign to combat the climate crisis that
will be led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, which
is chaired by Al Gore, and international environmental
NGOs.

    As one of the nine concert sites across the world, the
Shanghai concert will be staged on the steps of the
Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai from 7pm to 11pm and will
feature both Chinese and international artists, including:
Anthony Wong, Eason Chan, Evonne Hsu, Huang Xiao Ming, Joey
Yung, Sarah Brightman, Soler, Winnie Shin, and 12 Girls
Band.

    Globally, UNDP will work with Live Earth in China,
Brazil and South Africa by using its local knowledge,
network of partners, and experience and expertise on
climate change-to help millions of people gain a better
understanding of the gravity of the climate challenge and
our best hopes for dealing with it and keeping it from
getting worse. 

    In China, UNDP helps increase energy efficiency in
industry, promotes use of renewable energy, and fosters
local capacities to adapt to impacts of climate change on
food and water security, glacial melting and natural
disasters. 

    For the Live Earth Shanghai concert, UNDP will support
the coordination of civil society organizations and
community outreach activities to disseminate information
about Live Earth and climate change. Through the UN
Volunteers, UNDP will mobilize volunteers to support the
Live Earth concert. UN Volunteers is also supporting UNDP's
efforts to engage Chinese citizens through a grassroots
campaign promoting simple but effective ways people can be
empowered to respond to climate change by reducing their
individual greenhouse gas emissions.

    UNDP fosters human development to empower women and men
to build better lives in China. As the UN's development
network, UNDP draws on a world of experience to assist
China in developing its own solutions to the country's
development challenges. Through partnerships and
innovation, UNDP works to achieve the Millennium
Development Goals and an equitable Xiao Kang society by
reducing poverty, strengthening the rule of law, promoting
environmental sustainability, and fighting HIV/AIDS.  
http://www.undp.org.cn


    For more information, please contact: 

    Ms. Zhang Wei
    Communications Officer
    UNDP China
    Tel:   [phone]
    Email: [e-mail]