Climate webcast from Paris suspended after deadly attacks

PARIS — A Paris webcast of an all-star marathon event about climate change was suspended after the deadly attacks in that city Friday night.

“Out of solidarity with the French people and the City of Paris, we have decided to suspend our broadcast of 24 Hours of Reality and Live Earth,” read a statement on the concert’s website on Friday night. “Our thoughts are with all who have been affected and the entire nation of France. We send our condolences to the families of those who have been killed or injured.”

More than 135 people have been killed in a series of shootings and explosions across the city.

Former US Vice President Al Gore was due to host the 24-hour live webcast from the foot of the Eiffel Tower to drum up attention for this month’s international climate summit in Paris.

Besides Gore, who helped negotiate the 1997 climate treaty that failed to control global warming, the broadcast was to feature musical performances by Elton John, Duran Duran and others. Other concerts were to be broadcast from locations around the globe, from Rio de Janeiro to Miami, Sydney and Cape Town.

Gore’s aim is to raise awareness about global warming a few weeks before world leaders gather for the COP 21 Paris climate summit opening Nov. 30.

French President Francois Hollande and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan are among other officials scheduled to take part in the event.

RELATED STORIES

UN chief condemns ‘despicable terrorist attacks’ in Paris

Obama says US stands with France: ‘liberte, egalite, fraternite’

EU chief Juncker ‘deeply shocked’ by attacks in Paris

 

Read more...