13 March 2017 01:01 pm Views - 1458
Ten years after the world’s first Earth Hour in Sydney put climate change in the spotlight, WWF’s landmark movement is set to once again unite millions of people around the globe to shine a light on climate action.
As the planet continues to witness climate records being broken and the need for greater ambition and commitment accelerates, the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment is mobilizing individuals, communities and organizations globally to do their part to help change climate change.
Starting in 2007 as a single-city event, Earth Hour is now celebrated across all continents. In the past decade, as global climate efforts gained momentum, Earth Hour has helped bridge the gap between the grassroots and the corridors of power, taking climate action from conference rooms to living rooms. It has empowered millions to support and participate in critical climate and conservation projects led by WWF and many others, helping drive climate policy, awareness and action.
From the shores of Argentina where Earth Hour helped mobilize public support for the creation of a 3.4 million hectare-wide marine protected area, to the heart of Uganda where local communities and businesses helped create the first Earth Hour forest, the movement’s impact has been a game-changer for popularizing climate action.
“We started Earth Hour in 2007 to show leaders that climate change was an issue people cared about. For that symbolic moment to turn into the global movement it is today, is really humbling and speaks volumes about the powerful role of people in issues that affect their lives,” said Siddarth Das, Executive Director, Earth Hour Global. “Every flick of a switch or click online is a reminder that people see themselves as an integral part of climate action and it is this kind of collective determination we need to tackle the most pressing environmental challenge our planet has ever faced.”
In 2017, WWF and Earth Hour teams around the world will be using the movement to shine a light on the climate issue most relevant in their country or region. In Europe, as the European Union negotiates on crucial climate and energy policy for the period leading up to 2030, WWF will use the Donate Your Feed platform to mobilize public support- and their Facebook posts – to call for a clean, renewable energy future for all. In Brazil, people will be invited to join forces to protect one of the country’s many biodiversity hotspots from climate change while citizens in South Africa will raise their voice for renewable energy and in China, WWF is working with businesses to encourage a shift toward sustainable lifestyles.
Earth Hour Sri Lanka is calling on all Sri Lankan’s to take a stand against climate change and to preserve the natural resources of our beautiful country. Through traditional and social media, the campaign aims to shine a light on the positive actions Sri Lankan’s can take both as individuals and as communities to change climate change and help protect our country’s incredible natural resources.
When asked about what actions individuals can do to be part of this global campaign, the local Earth Hour Country Manager and Coordinator, Abdul Qadir requested the government, businesses, organizations and individuals to:
nSwitch off non-essential lights (corporate signage) on Saturday 25th March from 8.30 pm- 9.30 pm
nJoin the movement by signing up and taking part at https://www.earthhour.org/join-the-movement
nSpread awareness about climate change issues & solutions
nGo beyond the symbolic gesture of switching off non-essential lights for Earth Hour and drive climate action throughout the year, leading an environmentally conscious lifestyle.
Earth Hour 2017 will take place on Saturday 25 March at 8:30 p.m. local time.