WWF UK Earth Hour is taking place between 8.30-9.30pm local on Saturday 28th March 2009. People and businesses from all over the world will be taking part in what looks set to be the biggest mass global action on climate change ever.
The WWF is aiming to inspire a billion people across the globe in more than 1,000 cities to sign up and switch off their lights. For that hour the world’s skies will darken as millions of people across the planet switch off their lights, sending a signal to global leaders that they must take urgent action to tackle climate change.
In the UK alone 452 Schools and 49 national landmarks like Nelson’s Column and the National Theatre have agreed to turn off their lights. Other global icons taking part include the Eiffel Tower, the Shanghai Hong Kong New World Tower, Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro and Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Head of Campaigns at WWF UK, Colin Butfield, said –
‘WWF’s Earth Hour is an inspiring opportunity for people all around the world to do something positive to tackle climate change. By signing up to switch their lights off, millions of people will be showing world leaders that they care about curbing the worst impacts of climate change while we still can.’
Alongside the world landmarks, many multi national companies have pledged their support to Earth Hour, including IKEA, Coca-Cola, Sky, Ebay and HSBC. Coca-Cola will display the Earth Hour logo on their sign in Piccadilly Circus before switching it off for the hour, whilst IKEA stores across the UK will turn off their neon light signs.
Mr Butfield continued –
‘When global leaders meet at the UN conference in Copenhagen later this year, they are going to determine how the world will work together to tackle climate change in future. We need them to know that the eyes of the world will be upon them. WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple way for people all over the world to make sure our leaders really understand that people are looking to them to do what is right and that the time for action is now.’
