Bob Weir Honored as United Nations Goodwill Ambassador

By: Sep. 18, 2017
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Yesterday, Bob Weir was horored as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) appointed legendary musician and founding member of the Grateful Dead and Dead & Company to help raise awareness and mobilize support for the UN agency's work to end poverty while fighting climate change.

Weir will help UNDP shine a spotlight on the important role climate action plays in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which were agreed upon by world leaders to protect the planet and achieve a brighter future for all. Weir will help UNDP advocate for climate initiatives and projects that promote renewable energy, preserve coastlines, combat deforestation and ensure a healthy planet for generations to come.

Weir exclusively spoke to Billboard this weekend in conjunction with the announcement HERE.

As his first act as UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Weir spoke about climate change and the use of technology to mobilize action to protect the planet at the Social Good Summit today. Weir was joined on stage by Jeff Martin, CEO of Tribal Planet, a Silicon Valley mobile digital disruptor, bringing together a broad ecosystem of public and private sector organizations to deliver social impact.
Bob Weir is one of the founding members of the legendary Grateful Dead, which received a GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. Since establishing the band in 1965, Weir has become one of rock's finest and most distinctive rhythm guitarists. In 2016, he received the inaugural Les Paul Spirit Award and was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. Also in 2016, Weir released Blue Mountain on Columbia/Legacy/ROAR, his first album of solo material in more than 10 years and his first album of entirely original material in more than 30 years. The album received raves from critics including NPR who called the LP "stately, autumnal, metaphysical cowboy songs." Weir is currently a member of Dead & Company which features Grateful Dead members Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann along with GRAMMY-winner John Mayer, Oteil Burbridge and Jeff Chimenti. Weir was the subject of the 2015 Netflix documentary The Other One: The Long Strange Trip of Bob Weir, which chronicles his storied career. Released in summer 2017, Amazon Studios' Long Strange Trip- Amir Bar-Lev's critically acclaimed documentary about the Grateful Dead - is currently streaming on Amazon Prime as a six-part series.
Weir is joining a roster of UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors, which includes globally celebrated actors, athletes and even chefs. For the full list of UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors, click here.


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