Gore goes green at Cannes event

Al Gore, the former US vice-president, will address this year’s Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival on climate change issues in the build-up to the Live Earth concert on July 7,Gore’s trip to Cannes has been arranged by advertising agency Young & Rubicam (Y&R), and comes at a time when advertisers are increasingly keen to tout their “green” credentials.

His talk has generated so much interest that organisers have had to move his appearance to a larger venue.

Y&R is the agency behind Gore’s “Save Our Selves” campaign. Its chief executive Hamish McLennan has said the agency was keen to take a lead on getting people to change the way they consume in order to help reduce the carbon footprint.

Advertisers are also increasingly eager to promote their “green” initiatives to consumers. Companies such as Ariel and Tesco have recently produced television ads urging people to reduce their energy use and waste.

Since losing the US presidential election in 2000, Gore has become one of the world’s leading environmentalists. Despite intense speculation and him declaring he is not intending to run for the 2008 presidential election, he has refused to rule himself out completely..