Africa to feature on Al Gore's 8th annual 24 Hours of Reality broadcast

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Climate Reality chairman and former US vice president Al Gore will appear alongside some of the world’s most recognised celebrities, elected officials, and thought leaders to call attention to the climate crisis and how to solve it. This year’s broadcast, "24 Hours of Reality: Protect Our Planet, Protect Ourselves", will explore how the climate crisis is threatening human health worldwide.

Africa feature

On 4 December, 1pm (SAST), the broadcast will feature the Middle East and North Africa. The climate crisis has pushed places like Saudi Arabia to the brink of uninhabitability, putting millions at risk and necessitating urgent action to retain ways of life in the region. The hour will feature live interviews with activist and educator Neeshad Shafi and Zulfiqar Bhutta of the International Pediatric Association.

At 2pm (SAST), the broadcast will feature Sub-Saharan Africa, with huge portions of the population lacking access to electricity or improved drinking water, many African nations now are seeing health issues greatly exacerbated by climate change. We’ll take a closer look at how solar companies are bringing electricity to people living off the grid, and with it, hope for cutting emissions and saving lives.

At 3pm (SAST), the broadcast will feature South Africa. With its coastal cities threatened by rising sea levels and food insecurity and prices both expected to rise with climate temperatures, South Africa finds itself under keen health threat due to the climate crisis. The hour will feature a live slideshow presentation by Gore, and conversations with Dr Sophia Kisting-Cairncross, head of the National Institute for Occupational Health, and Desmond D’Sa, recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize for grassroots activism.

'How we can take bold, ambitious action'

“Our health depends on the health of the planet,” said Gore. “The climate crisis is not an abstract issue; it has direct impacts on us and the people we love the most. I’m looking forward to exploring the climate and health connection on this year’s 24 Hours broadcast and to discussing how we can take bold and ambitious action to ensure that future generations can live long, healthy lives full of opportunity and promise.”

What southern Africa needs to do to manage rising temperatures

Professor Bob Scholes  15 Oct 2018

The full list of television broadcast partners will be available closer to the broadcast date at www.24HoursofReality.org. The show will also be available live via online streaming at YouTube and through a network of social distribution partners, including via Facebook Live and others. Global transmission feed is being provided by Intelsat, operator of the world’s first Globalized Network and leader in integrated satellite communications.