Sydney leaders gather to commit to the next phase of Earth Hour
24 Jul 2007
WWF to share plans for Earth Hour 2008
"More than 140 Sydney-based leaders of major Australian businesses will come together tomorrow (Wednesday 25 July) to turn a Sydney initiative into a worldwide stand against global warming.
"The city's top CEOs, Managing Directors and Senior Executives will meet on Wednesday to discuss and commit to the next phase of Earth Hour - the lights out initiative that plunged Sydney into darkness for one hour on March 31 this year.
"The next phase means going global. Not only is Earth Hour set to take place in major cities across Australia in March 2008, but also in major cities across the world, as a result of the huge success of Sydney's Earth Hour, the first held anywhere in the world.
"WWF-Australia, Earth Hour's organiser, has worked to secure the buy in for 2008 participation from the international WWF network. In addition, Earth Hour was presented and well received at the C40 Mayors Climate Change Summit held in New York in May - spearheaded by Sydney's Lord Mayor, Clover Moore MP.
"Earth Hour's global plans coincide with WWF's ask to supporting Australian businesses to act as climate change leaders within their international networks, encouraging Earth Hour practices within overseas branches.
"Earth Hour took place on March 31 this year, with 2.2 million people and over 2,200 businesses flicking the switch, taking appliances off standby and enjoying an hour of quiet darkness."
Find out more
Rachael Hoy, Press Office, WWF-Australia
Phone: 02 8202 1242
Mobile: 0415 643 165
Email: rhoy@wwf.org.au
Kristy Bloxsome, Red Agency
Phone: 02 9963 7718
Mobile: 0417 820 877
Email: kristy.bloxsome@redagency.com.au
Notes
- As part of an ongoing schedule of activity, the July 25 breakfast briefing advances the Earth Hour campaign toward March 2008 - when the next Earth Hour is set to take place.
- Among those attending are prominent CEOs, Managing Directors and Senior Executives from Sydney's top businesses and organisations including National Rugby League, Colliers International, St George, Insurance Australia Group, Tetsuya's, Jones Lang La Salle, Investa Property Group, State Street Global Advisors, Deloitte and Lend Lease. The briefing will outline plans for the future of Earth Hour and the commitment needed for the road ahead.
- Many of the organisations attending took part in Earth Hour on March 31 by either turning off their lights or holding special Earth Hour events. The majority have since implemented ways to engage staff and reduce their company's carbon footprint - in line with the initiative's aim for supporting businesses to reduce their carbon emissions by 5 per cent over 2007.
- Leigh Minehan, Deputy CEO, PricewaterhouseCoopers said: "PwC Australia is proud to support Earth Hour into the future. We're committed to measuring our impacts to continually reduce our emissions, and are endeavouring to replicate our success in PwC member firms across the world.
- t;With strict emissions trading schemes on the international agenda, businesses around the globe will have to scrutinise workplace practices to reduce their carbon emissions. We applaud Earth Hour for instilling an environmental responsibility in Sydney's business community."
- Greg Bourne, CEO, WWF-Australia said: "The level of engagement we've seen from Sydney's leaders has been tremendous. For these organisations to take the lead and forge ahead with the ideals of Earth Hour really shows that the city's decision makers are committed to reducing the impacts of climate change.Their ongoing commitment is commended, and as Earth Hour's strongest supporters we are inviting them to be part of its future."
The following are a number of companies who committed to Earth Hour earlier this year:
AAMI, AAPT, ABN Amro, Accenture, AdCorp, AGL, Allens Arthur Robinson, American Express Australia, AMP Capital Investors, APN Online, APN Outdoor, Australian Institute of Management, Babcock & Brown Environmental Investments Limited, Baker & McKenzie, BP Australia, City of Sydney, Clayton Utz, Colliers International, Colonial First State, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Darling Harbour Business Association, DTZ Australia, Ernst & Young, Euro RSCG, Fairfax Media, Fuji Xerox Australia, Green Building Council of Australia, Hamilton James and Bruce, Henry Davis York, Insurance Australia Group, Integral Energy, Investa Property Group, Investec Bank, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lend Lease, KPMG, Leo Burnett, Lowe Hunt, Macquarie Bank, McDonalds, McMillan Print, MLC, National Rugby League, NSW Ambulance Service, NSW Fire Brigades, NSW Government, NSW Health, NSW Minerals Council, OPTUS, Origin Energy Limited, Oroton Group Limited, Perpetual Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Proctor & Gamble, Property Council of Australia, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sydney, Red Agency, Reserve Bank of Australia, St George Bank, Sims Group, Spicer Paper, Starcom, State Street Global Advisors, Surf Life Saving Australia, Swaab Attorneys, Sydney Chamber of Commerce, Telstra, Tetsuya's, The CEO Institute, TorchMedia, Transport Infrastructure Development, Virgin Money, Virgin Unite, Whybin TBWA, Woolworths Limited.
