"Al Gore's dedication to the environment has never wavered," says Eric Chivian, MD, director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment and co-recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize. "He is one of our nation's most knowledgeable and passionate communicators about the urgent need to address global climate change."
Gore's commitment to the environment, and particularly global warming, is demonstrated through his pioneering efforts to protect and preserve the earth's natural resources since his days in the House of Representatives. His efforts span nearly three decades and address the need for both public and policy action.
"Time and again, Al Gore has taken a stand for the environment," says Center board member Meryl Streep, who will present Gore with the award. "He has never shied away from fighting to preserve it, for the sake of our own well-being, and that of future generations."
While Vice President, Gore was responsible for a number of environmental initiatives. He worked with President Clinton and the Big Three automakers to begin research and development on alternate fuel and hybrid vehicles. He worked to combat global warming in a way that also creates new jobs, by helping America lead the estimated $400 billion worldwide market for new technologies that clean up the environment, and he was a central figure at the 1997 Climate Change Summit in Kyoto, Japan. His pioneering efforts to protect the earth's ozone layer and to clean up toxic-waste dumps were outlined in his best-selling book, Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit (1992).
Today, Gore is Chairman of Generation Investment Management, a new London-based fund management firm that plans to create environment-friendly portfolios. In addition, he makes frequent speeches on climate change to policy-makers, business leaders and public audiences around the world.
"It is an honor to receive this award from the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School," says Gore. "The Center has led the way in providing critical evidence about how global environmental change threatens our health and the health of our children," he said.
"It is now time for all of us to rise to the occasion of addressing global warming," Gore added. "The warnings have been given clearly, and the time to act is now. We cannot afford to wait any longer."
Al Gore serves as Chairman of Current TV, a new cable and satellite news and information network for young people. Gore is also a visiting professor at Middle Tennessee State University.
The Global Environmental Citizen Award is presented annually by the Center for Health and the Global Environment to the citizen who does outstanding work towards protecting the global environment. The Ceremony will be held Oct. 21, 2005, in New York City. The event will also feature eco-friendly fashion and cuisine. Award-winning master chefs Peter Hoffman, Michel Nischan, and Nora Pouillon will be serving local and environmentally sustainable food, and Meryl Streep, along with others, will be modeling clothes made from sustainable material by designer Linda Loudermilk.
Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School
http://chge.med.harvard.edu
The mission of the Center is to help people understand that our health, and that of our children, depends on the health of the environment, and that we must do everything we can to protect it.
Harvard Medical School
http://hms.harvard.edu/
Harvard Medical School has more than 6,000 full-time faculty working in eight academic departments based at the School's Boston quadrangle or in one of 47 academic departments at 18 Harvard teaching hospitals and research institutes. Those Harvard hospitals and research institutions include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, the CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, Children's Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Forsyth Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children's Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and VA Boston Healthcare System.