Gore suspends Paris climate concert during attacks

A Paris concert hosted by former Vice President Al Gore to advocate for global climate change action was suspended Friday as the city was hit by multiple terrorist attacks that killed dozens

The climate event near the Eiffel Tower was still happening around 6:30 p.m. eastern United States time, but it was stopped shortly thereafter.

The web-based livestream for the event was replaced with a statement.

{mosads}“Out of solidarity with the French people and the city of Paris, we have decided to suspend our broadcast,” it says. “Our thoughts are with all who have been affected and the entire nation.”

Top Obama administration officials, including White House adviser Brian Deese, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and Environmental Protection Agency head Gina McCarthy were due to appear remotely at Gore’s event, along with other current and former world leaders.

The shutdown happened hours after a series of terrorist attacks began in and around Paris that have reportedly killed dozens. Officials in France and elsewhere believe the attacks were coordinated, and France has closed its borders to try to prevent further terrorism.

Gore, who has become an outspoken climate activist, timed the event for three weeks before world leaders are scheduled to meet in Paris for a United Nations event in the hopes of reaching an international agreement to cut greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change.

President Obama revealed last week that he plans to attend the talks on Nov. 30 and Oct. 1.

After giving a speech about the Paris attacks at the White House, Obama did not respond to questions from reporters about whether he would change his travel plans.

The United Nations’ Framework Convention on Climate Change, the international agency planning the climate pact negotiations, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on how the terrorist attacks will change plans for the meeting, if at all.

Gore’s event, dubbed 24 Hours of Reality, started hours before the attacks and was planned to feature artists including Duran Duran, Florence + The Machine, Mumford and Sons and Neil Young.