Al Gore to visit RP in April

MANILA, Philippines - Environmental activist and former US Vice President Al Gore is set to visit the Philippines next year to lend support to a mall’s environmental advocacy program.

Annie Garcia, president of SM Supermalls, announced Gore’s visit next year to promote the SM Green Retail Agenda.

The SM Green Retail Agenda hopes to influence their three million shoppers everyday to start protecting and caring for the environment through eco-friendly practices.

“We have 2.8 million shoppers everyday nationwide in our 36 malls and we hope we can help in making them aware of the need to protect and preserve our environment,” she said in a conference last Monday at the SM Convention Center in Pasay.

Garcia said Gore’s presence would be a big boost to their environmental advocacy programs.

“Former US Vice President Al Gore is coming on April 30 next year to join us,” Garcia said.

Gore, a Nobel Peace awardee, starred in the award-winning documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.”

Meanwhile, Collin Crorkin, deputy head of mission of the British Embassy in Manila, who was one of the guest speakers at the conference, hailed the government’s initiative in addressing climate change. He also noted the country’s leadership in championing the environment in Southeast Asia.

“The signing of two significant laws by President Arroyo – the Renewable Energy Law and the recent Climate Change Law creating the Climate Change Commission – shows the Philippines’ leadership in the region and commitment to address climate change,” he said.

“While the private sector plays a major role in tackling climate change, its action will not be enough. We need the concerted efforts by all parties – policy makers, businesses, and consumers – in order for us to tackle climate change,” he said.