World Rallies for Earth Hour
15 Dec 2007
First twelve cities sign up to switch off for Earth Hour 2008
More than ten of the world's major cities today pledged their support for Earth Hour 2008, the WWF led-climate change initiative that has gained worldwide momentum. Earth Hour will take place at 8pm on Saturday March 29 next year with more cities expected to sign up in coming weeks.
Sydney, host of the inaugural Earth Hour campaign held on March 31 this year, will be joined in 2008 by Melbourne, Brisbane, Chicago (USA), Copenhagen (Denmark), Toronto (Canada), Manila (Philippines) and Tel Aviv (Israel) and other cities in turning off lights for one hour in a global demonstration of the world's readiness to tackle climate change head on.
WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne said: "To the cities that have signed on to Earth Hour 2008, I congratulate you and welcome you to the Earth Hour family. The time to act is now. We must increase our efforts in addressing climate change while we still have a chance to make a difference.
"To the cities that haven't committed yet - the planet needs your help. Reducing the world's emissions is a shared responsibility. Each city must commit to reducing its carbon output and every single person, business and community should take it upon themselves to participate."
The Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore MP said: "2.2 million Sydneysiders began the Earth Hour journey, and now the Earth Hour blueprint has been made available to all cities, towns and villages around the world. From rural towns in outback Australia to highly populated iconic cities - everyone can take simple steps to make Earth Hour happen."
LIST OF CITIES PARTICIPATING IN EARTH HOUR 2008
- Sydney, Australia
- Chicago, USA
- Toronto, Canada
- Tel Aviv, Israel
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Manila, Philippines
- Suva, Fiji
- Aarhus, Denmark
- Brisbane, Australia
- Aalborg, Denmark
- Melbourne, Australia
- Odense, Denmark
Earth Hour 2007 was a huge success with more than two million Sydneysiders, and 2,200 Sydney businesses turning off their lights for one hour. The campaign sent a powerful global message that it's possible for individuals to take action on climate change.
Earth Hour 2008, with its international contingent, hopes to spread the message that reducing the world's emissions is a shared global responsibility. WWF-Australia is inviting other towns, cities and communities around the world to sign on.
Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions - from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.
To find out more about Earth Hour, residents and businesses can visit the official website www.earthhour.org and sign up.
Global support for Earth Hour
- Sydney's Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP said: "We are seeing the difference in people's awareness, in their growing demand that governments meet the challenge of global warming, in the growing willingness of individuals and corporations to make a difference themselves."
- Chicago's Lord Mayor Richard M Daley said: "Global warming has become a serious threat to our world and it's important for us to be part of the solution by making changes in our lives and our communities to reduce our carbon footprint. It's my goal to make Chicago the most environmentally-friendly city in the world and I am pleased and honoured to join mayors and leaders worldwide in support of Earth Hour 2008. I encourage everyone to take part in this important initiative."
- Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Ron Huldai said: "I am proud to announce that the City of Tel Aviv-Yafo will join the fight against global warming by being part of Earth Hour in 2008. We are now at the point in time where we can no longer postpone the issue of climate change. Earth Hour is a beginning, and every city to join can help make a difference by taking responsibility to reduce emissions. Every single person and every company must take it upon themselves to contribute. Reducing the world's emissions is a shared responsibility. We look forward to turning our lights off for one hour at 8pm on March 27 next year working in unison with other cities around the world to inspire and change everyday behaviours in reducing our world's greenhouse gas emissions and changing the future."
- Melbourne's Lord Mayor John So said: "I am proud to announce that the City of Melbourne will join Sydney and Brisbane in the fight against global warming, by being part of Earth Hour in 2008. One small contribution from each and every person is a pledge to reduce emissions by five per cent. That is the message of Earth Hour. I urge the people of Melbourne to get behind Earth Hour and let the world know Melbourne is serious about being an environmentally responsible city."
- Toronto's Mayor David Miller said: "I am proud to announce that the city of Toronto will continue our fight against global warming by being part of Earth Hour in 2008. Every resident, every business and every government has a duty to fight global warming because reducing the world emissions is a shared responsibility. I believe where nations fail to lead, cities can and must lead. In the city of Toronto we have very aggressive goals to reduce global warming and stop climate change. The Earth Hour project is a very exciting way to raise awareness of this critical issue. I encourage all Torontonians at 8pm on March 29 to turn off their lights. Because we all know that changes to everyday behaviours is the only way we can succeed."
- Copenhagen's Lord Mayor Ritt Bjerregaard said: "I think it's very important to give a signal to people that you can make a difference. Help us to shut down the lights to reduce the amount of CO2. In Copenhagen, people will be thinking about climate change and how they can help the situation. I hope that all cities, all over the world will be part of it. I think it's a fantastic idea that all big cities will be dark for one hour. Our city's inhabitants take climate change seriously. Maybe there are a few politicians who are not taking it seriously and who are not willing to go into a different type of agreement, but our citizens are serious and will show them on the day."
About WWF
WWF-Australia is part of the WWF International Network, the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organisation. It has close to five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the planet's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. This is achieved by working on the ground with local communities, and in partnership with government and industry, using the best possible science to advocate change and effective conservation policy.
Leo Burnett Sydney
Award winning agency, Leo Burnett is WWF's partner in the Earth Hour initiative. The agency, in collaboration with WWF, has created the Earth Hour identity and logo and a dedicated holistic communications campaign, designed to harness the power of TV, radio, print and interactive.
More information
Kath Eggleston, WWF-Australia
Phone: +61 2 8202 1294
Mobile: 0408 408 562
Email: keggleston@wwf.org.au
Natasha Gillooly, Red Agency
Phone: +61 2 9963 7730
Mobile: 0420 764 505
Email: natasha.gillooly@redagency.com.au
