EARTH HOUR

Tue 31 March 2009 | 12:02 p.m.

Earth Hour's Countdown to Copenhagen

As the lights fade in Honolulu bringing to a close Earth Hour’s roll out across 25 time zones in over 4,000 cities and towns in 88 countries, hundreds of millions of people have “voted earth” in the world’s largest demonstration of public concern about climate change.

“Earth Hour 2009 was an incredible success,” said WWF International Director General James Leape. If you participated in Earth Hour, thank you, your participation made that success possible.

“Earth Hour signals a real desire from people all over the world for urgent action on climate change, and a mandate for the world’s leaders to secure a new deal in Copenhagen that defines an effective global response."

“Our work continues, because over the next eight months, the leaders of the world will be deciding how they step up to meet this challenge, and we need, together, to make sure they do the right thing.

Earth Hour Global Director, Andy Ridley, expressed his amazement at the unprecedented volume of support and participation in the lights out campaign.

“It is humbling to see the unbelievable reaction and solidarity shown by the millions of people voting earth with their light switches in the past 24 hours. The next task is to build on this amazing momentum and to make those votes count in Copenhagen,” said Mr Ridley.

Tue 31 March 2009 | 11:54 a.m.

Exuberant Earth Hour in Brazil

Brazilian emblem, the 38 meter tall Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro was the most widely known icon to switch from floodlights to no lights for the hour.

Elsewhere, however, WWF-Brazil reported a country “partying in the dark” – more or less what the rest of the world would expect.

In Belém, there was a Boi Bumbá presentation, a popular regional festival. In Brasília, a percussion concert began after the lights went off. In Manaus, Imbaúba Group played acoustic music inspired by the sounds of the Amazon. And in Rio de Janeiro AfroReggae played a concert in which all musicians were covered in phosphorescent body paint.

Some 101 Brazilian cities and towns participated in Earth Hour in addition to 480 community organizations and 1,000 private businesses. Small cities all over the country joined in, WWF-Brazil reported, with Juazeiro do Norte, in Ceará, turning off the lights of Priest Cícero statue, a symbol of the religiosity of the Northeastern population. Ouro Preto, an ancient village in Minas Gerais, turned off the lights of the colonial buildings.

“Brazil is the ninth economy of the world, and plays an important role between developing countries, as a leader at international negotiations on climate changes,” WWF-Brazil’s CEO, Denise Hamú said. “We must set an example for fair and sustainable development.”

Brazil and other Amazon basin countries are looking to the Copenhagen climate conference in December to come up with new measures to avoid deforestation, a major cause of greenhouse gas emissions.

In Colombia, residents of nine cities – including major urban centres such as Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena – turned their lights off for Earth Hour.

Medellin’s mayor took the opportunity at an unrelated cocktail party to address 1,500 people about Earth landmarks, the Murallas de Cartagena and the San Felipe Fortress.

Tue 31 March 2009 | 11:22 a.m.

Canada Surpasses Itself

Canada, an enthusiastic participant in the 2008 Earth Hour event, surpassed itself this year and has the electricity consumption figures to prove it. Utilities in Toronto, reported a 15.1 percent drop in electricity use over the hour, compared to 8.7 percent during Earth Hour 2008.

Canada, with 258 cities, towns and municipalities signed up for Earth Hour, hosted dozens of public events including star gazing, magic shows, and even yoga lessons in the dark.

Toronto's iconic skyline was dramatically darkened as famous buildings such as the CN Tower, along with thousands of other businesses and individuals in the city switched off their lights. An estimated 10 to 15,000 people attended a free concert at Toronto’s City Hall to mark Earth Hour.

Canada is home to many of the world’s remaining polar bears, two thirds of which could be lost during the next 50 years because of climate change, according to recent comprehensive analyses by the U.S. Geological Survey and the World Conservation Union.

Tue 31 March 2009 | 11:06 a.m.

Lights Switch Off at Birthplace of Light Bulb

Some of the United State’s best known skylines darkened on Saturday night, from Atlanta,
Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Salt Lake City, St. Louis, Tucson and Federal capital Washington, D.C. – a place where the world is looking to a new administration for clear indications of a global view of the climate change issue.

In Pennsylvania, California, Arkansas, New Mexico and Michigan participation in Earth Hour was officially a statewide activity.

In one highly symbolic action, the lights went out at the location most often associated with the invention of the incandescent light bulb - Thomas Edison’s laboratory in West Orange, New Jersey. In New York, the great skyscrapers of the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building darkened for the event, along with some neon signs in Times Square and theatre marquees in nearby Broadway.

Most symbolically, for a world faced with global climate catastrophe, the lights also went out at UN Headquarters, having earlier been extinguished at other UN offices such as the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

The US participation in Earth Hour sent a clear message that Americans cared about the future of the planet and would stand with the rest of the world in seeking to find solutions to the escalating climate crisis, WWF-US said.

“The true power of Earth Hour can be seen in the tremendous opportunity for individuals, communities, businesses, and governments around the world to unite for a common purpose, against a common threat which affects us all,” said WWF-US President and CEO Carter Roberts.

“As the world witnessed Saturday night, the simple action of turning off lights can inspire people around the world to take action, and to make a serious long-term commitment to living more sustainable lives. On behalf of WWF, I want to thank all participants for making Earth Hour a truly memorable hour for the entire planet.”

In Washington, D.C. families organized a candle-light walk to observe the city in the dark against a darkened Capitol Dome.

In Nashville and Los Angeles crowds gathered to watch their Mayors flip the switch and kick off Earth Hour in their cities. In Chicago families gathered around flashlights to play board games.

The enthusiasm for turning lights out extended to one of the most notoriously over lit places on earth – the Las Vegas Strip noted for its myriad casinos and all-night attractions.
Vegas, The New York New York Hotel and Casino colored the tops of its miniature New York skyline green in support of Earth Hour.

Elsewhere on the Strip, the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino added the Earth Hour logo to its Marquee.Thousands of people downtown gathered to be part of this global event and witness a live countdown on the Fremont Street Experience Canopy. Glow sticks were handed out just prior to city leaders plunging the strip into dark.

Further west, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco turned off for Earth Hour. Other US icons to go dark included the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the Church of Latter-Day Saints Temple in Salt Lake City, the National Cathedral in Washington D.C , the Space Needle in Seattle and the Santa Monica Pier & Ferris Wheel and Nokia Plaza in Los Angeles. Earth Hour apparently also drew the spontaneous support of some Honolulu businesses, while local media reported that the Bishop Museum, the state’s largest and repository of the most notable collection of Hawaiian royal artifacts, had turned off its lights.

US corporate icons The Coca-Cola Company, Wells Fargo and Hewlett-Packard.were among business supporters of the event.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 1:26 p.m.

Big Ben chimes in on climate call

Sun 29 March 2009 | 1:25 p.m.

Europe calls for a new climate deal

Sun 29 March 2009 | 1:24 p.m.

Cradle of Democracy Votes for Climata Action

Sun 29 March 2009 | 1:23 p.m.

Africa shares its climate concerns

Sun 29 March 2009 | 1:22 p.m.

As Arctic thaws, Russia calls on the world to act

Earth Hour will have its longest passage through Russia, traversing 11 time zones, through the world’s largest nation by area. Much of the country lies near the Arctic where summer sea ice is rapidly retreating as the polar regions warm at a much faster rate than the earth generally.

Polar bears – and in the Antarctic, penguins – have become potent symbols of the looming victims of climate change in the natural world.

Vladilen Kavry, a coordinator of WWF-Russia’s "Bear Patrol" in remote Chukotka province and a native chukchi said that people of many of Chukotka's municipalities took part in Earth Hour. In capital city Anadyr, the lights went out on Svyato-Troizky church, the biggest cathedral on the north-east of Russia, as well as the lights of a row of buildings in the city centre.

The lights were also turned off in the tiny village of Vankarem, located right by the Ice Sea. As polar bear migrations commonly go through the village, members of the Bear Patrol checked the village for bears as a safety precaution before turning off the lights.

Even further north, members of the Catlin Arctic Survey expedition videoed themselves counting down to Earth Hour. The survey, partly sponsored by WWF, is conducting the first ever ground survey of the thickness of Arctic sea ice. It is likely to confirm scientists’ fears that the older, thicker ice is disappearing and lend support to predictions that the summer sea ice could disappear within a generation, leading to catastrophic consequences for a vital global ecosystem supporting organisms from single celled flora and fauna to whales.

As Moscow mayor Yuri Luzhkov and WWF-Russia Director Igor Chestin flicked a huge symbolic switch, crowds viewed a giant rooftop video showing the lights going out on about 25 Moscow landmarks including the city government building, the Luzhniki Olympic Stadium, the Smolensky Bridge and elsewhere along the Moscow River, Moscow University and noted Soviet era skyscraper “the high house of Kotelnicheskaya". Preliminary estimates from Moscow were that about one million took part in Earth Hour, with more than 100,000 registering support on the WWF-Russia website.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 1:21 p.m.

Middle East Picks up the Call

In Kuwait, a day of activities leading up to and during Earth Hour were held, including an environmental fair and a Global Warming Seminar by a scientific expert from the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Researches, at the popular tourist attraction Green Island. During Earth Hour, the public was given access to a telescope public to star gaze.

Bustling metropolis Dubai, global commercial center of the oil-rich Middle East, led strong support from gulf nations for Earth Hour as two of its major architectural jewels were blanketed in darkness.

The massive Burj Dubai, currently reaching 688 metres into the sky, will be the world’s tallest building once it is completed. The Burj Al Arab, meaning Tower of the Arabs, is one of the world’s tallest hotels at 321 meters high.

Popular rock band Coldplay wore Earth Hour emblazoned T-shirts on stage at a “carbon neutral” concert in Abu Dhabi, where WWF is a partner in the construction of the world’s most ambitious green urban community Masdar City.

“Earth Hour is a powerful symbol of what can be achieved through individual action on a global scale, with the whole world coming together in a response to tackle climate change,” said Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Managing Director, EWS - WWF said in a statement prior to today’s events.

“In the UAE, we are keen to grasp the momentum generated by this global occasion, urging everyone to make the switch for one symbolic hour, thus taking affirmative action towards helping save our planet.”

In Egypt, the 5000 year old Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx became the oldest of the many monuments turning off for Earth Hour, reflecting concern on looming collision between population growth and the drying already apparent from climate change.

“Climate Change is a growing international crisis no country can afford to overlook,” said Egypt’s First Lady, Suzanne Mubarak earlier this week.

Istanbul, the city where Europe and Asia meet, led the global Earth Hour movement in Turkey, bolstered by the support of dozens of companies, from international stalwarts to local enterprises.

“Earth Hour is a very good opportunity to move the public towards action.” WWF-Turkey CEO Filiz Demirayak said.

More than 40 companies and corporations lent their support to Earth Hour in Turkey. They included international companies such as Tetra Pak and Adidas, to leading hotels such as the Hilton and Conrad hotels.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 6:26 a.m.

India (and Bollywood) rate climate action a priority

“Climate Change is undoubtedly and regrettably, the biggest immediate long-term environmental challenge we face,” famed Bollywood actor and filmmaker Aamir Khan said in a statement leading up to the country’s participation in Earth Hour.

“A failure to come to sound policy outcomes on climate change will not only have a negative environmental impact but also social and economic consequences for all of us.”

The world’s second most populated country participated enthusiastically in Earth Hour, with official activities taking place in the cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Dehradun, Shimla, Chandigarh and Hyderabad as well as numerous smaller communities.

Private citizens, businesses and government bodies took part, with an order reportedly going out today from a government ministry in New Delhi that all of the city’s public landmarks and monuments in the area should switch off their lights for Earth Hour.

Mumbai’s best known landmarks, the Reserve Bank and Air India buildings and the Indian Tourism Development Corporation’s flagship Ashok Hotel, went dark along with hundreds of other buildings across the city. Indian IT giants such as WIPRO and Infosys also joined in.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 6:22 a.m.

China sends its climate message

Whether it was restaurants hosting romantic dinners by candlelight or the iconic Bird’s Nest in Beijing going dark, citizens of the world’s most populous country sent a bold message that action must be taken to fight climate change.

A slew of major Chinese landmarks in Beijing and Shanghai– with a combined population of more than 36 million people -- were blanketed in darkness to mark Earth Hour. In the meantime, across China lights were dimmed at bars for Earth Hour themed parties, while astronomy groups relished the rare opportunity to stargaze in a darkened sky.

China is the world’s most populous country and a major producer of greenhouse gases, mainly because of its coal burning and industrial activities that stem from its rapid economic development in recent years – but its emissions per capita remain low by western standards.

In Beijing, a series of prominent buildings in the Olympic Park went dark. In the flagship Beijing event, the lights were first switched off at Ling Long Tower, followed by Pangu Plaza, the Olympic Park streets, the Bird's Nest, and the Water Cube.

In Shanghai, lights at the Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and district and municipal government buildings across the city were turned off. The Power Valley Jin Jiang International Hotel in Baoding and the Drum Tower in Nanjing likewise flicked the switch.

Further south, buildings along Hong Kong’s world famous harbour skyline went dark, including many of its well known neon signs. Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights, the world’s largest permanent light show, was also extinguished to mark Earth Hour.

WWF China country representative Dermot O'Gorman said the statement for action on global warming was being made “loud and clear” in China.

“What’s most impressive about Earth Hour in China is how many ordinary people across the country have signed up to switch off their lights. This sends a powerful message to the world that people in China want action on climate change now,” he said.

“We are excited to see that the Earth Hour is supplementing the government’s efforts in raising environmental awareness and energy-saving know-how among the public, and find that the enthusiasm we’ve seen from ordinary people around China for Earth Hour has far exceeded our expectations.”

Earth Hour ambassador, noted Chinese actress Li Bing Bing, said switching off lights for one hour sent “a strong signal that we all care about the vital issue of global climate change”.

Hong Kong

More than 1,800 Hong Kong buildings and landmarks including International Finance Centre, Cultural Centre Complex and Tsing Ma Bridge; over 600 companies and organizations, over 160 schools and all universities joined thousands of people across Hong Kong who switched off their lights for an hour in support of WWF’s Earth Hour as a call for action on climate change.

In Hong Kong about 40,000 people watched Earth Hour videos shown at Rugby Sevens at the Hong Kong Stadium. The Symphony of Lights in the Victoria Harbour was suspended. The city began to go into darkness at 8:30pm when neon signs and lights of buildings across Hong Kong started to go out. Businesses at commercial areas such as Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay also dimmed their lights to show support, while bars and restaurants in Lan Kwai Fong and Wanchai were lit up with candles to spread the message. At the community level, 18 District Councils switched off non-essential lights in their facilities.

“Hong Kong, together with other cities around the world, made a statement by turning off their lights for one hour. This simple action on this historic day will have reverberations into the future. WWF will take this global voice to Copenhagen in December this year, where world leaders will be coming together to make decisions about green house gas emissions and climate change,” said Trevor Yang, Chairman of WWF Hong Kong.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 6:21 a.m.

Tall towers turn off across Asia

Singapore’s Merlion statue – a cultural mainstay and popular tourist attraction – went dark, while further north the lights went out on the dominating features of the skyline of Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, the Petronas Twin Towers and the Menara Telecommunications Tower.

WWF-Malaysia reported strong household participation in the event, with residents of high rise apartment buildings passing flyers around to neighbours.

The Petronas Twin Towers, still the world’s tallest twin building, were considered the world’s tallest building from 1998 until 2004.

In Taiwan (Chinese Taipei), Taipei101, the building that eclipsed the twin towers and still remains the world’s tallest building also turned off its lights for Earth Hour. The building that will eclipse it as the officially recognised world’s tallest building later this year, the Burj Dubai tower in the United Arab Emirates, is set to turn its lights off when Earth Hour reaches the Arabian Gulf. In New York, half a world away, the famous Empire State Building was also due to make an “Empire statement” on the need to act on climate change.

In Thailand, a concert and fashion show in Bangkok will lead up to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva personally switching off the lights. The Prime Minister stayed to turn the lights back on one hour later. Lights also switched off on Khao San road, one of Bangkok’s main tourist thoroughfares.

In Seoul, South Korea, crowds gathered at Changwon Playground Squareto watch an environmental movie in celebration of Earth Hour.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 6:19 a.m.

Phillipines registers record participation

The Philippines topped the Earth Hour global register for cities, towns and districts taking part in Asia, with more than 650 communities taking part.

The event started with the darkening of the Rizal Shrine, a major Manila landmark honouring Filipino national hero Dr. José Rizal. The massive Mall of Asia in Pasay City, the world’s fourth largest mall, also went dark in a ceremony that drew several hundred people.

The ceremony was broadcast live to homes around the country by Studio 23, one of the largest television networks in the Philippines.

The Philippines is one of the half dozen countries that share the Coral Triangle – a world centre of marine biodiversity - home to six of the seven marine turtle species, more than 3,000 species of fish, the heaviest bony fish of the deep (the 1,000 kg mola) and the coelacanth, a species thought until recently to have gone extinct with the dinosaurs some 65 million years ago.

But more than 18 per cent of the region's coral reefs were damaged or destroyed in a bleaching event linked to rising sea temperatures in 1998-99, underlining the immense risks climate change poses to the environment, food security and the economies of coastal and island countries and communities.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 2:22 a.m.

China's landmarks go dark for Earth Hour

Beijing, China: The iconic Bird's Nest and Water Cube were blanketed in darkness tonight for an hour as their lights were switched off to raise awareness about the need for action on climate change.

The landmark structures were part of a series of prominent buildings in the Olympic Park area that went dark from 8.30pm in a dramatic display of support for the global Earth Hour lights off initiative.

In the flagship Beijing event, the lights were first switched off at Ling Long Tower, followed by Pangu Plaza, the Olympic Park streets, the Bird's Nest, and the Water Cube.

Not to be outdone, Shanghai matched the capital’s commitment by switching off the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and district and municipal government buildings across the city. The Power Valley JinJiang International Hotel in Baoding and the Drum Tower in Nanjing likewise flicked the switch.

At a special Earth Hour event on the top floor of the Pangu Plaza’s hotel, partners and the media looked across the Olympic Green as some of China’s biggest icons went black. WWF China country representative Dermot O'Gorman said the statement for action on global warming was being made “loud and clear” in China.

“What’s most impressive about Earth Hour in China is how many ordinary people across the country have signed up to switch off their lights. This sends a powerful message to the world that people in China want action on climate change now,” he said.

“We are excited to see that the Earth Hour is supplementing the government’s efforts in raising environmental awareness and energy-saving know-how among the public, and find that the enthusiasm we’ve seen from ordinary people around China for Earth Hour has far exceeded our expectations.”

In addition to the darkening of landmark buildings, individuals, groups and businesses found many innovative ways to participate in the world’s first global election between Earth and climate change.

Restaurants played host to romantic candlelight suppers, lights were dimmed at bars for Earth Hour themed parties, while astronomy groups relished the rare opportunity to stargaze in a darkened sky.

WWF’s Earth Hour asks people, businesses, governments and communities to turn off their lights between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on March 28, to demonstrate their concern about global warming.

Earth Hour ambassador Li Bing Bing said switching off lights for one hour sent “a strong signal that we all care about the vital issue of global climate change”.

When the event started in Sydney in 2007, 2 million people switched off their light s. This year, more than 3,200 cities and towns from 84 countries are taking part in Earth Hour, including the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Baoding, Dalian, Shunde, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Harbin, Changchun and Changsha.

They will join in global solidarity with 67 national capitals and some of the world’s most prominent cites, including London, Paris, Hong Kong, Dubai, Cape Town and Mumbai.

Major global icons that will switch off range from ancient wonders like Egypt's Great Pyramids and the Acropolis in Athens, to modern marvels such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and New York's Empire State Building.

Earth Hour’s open-source nature has been a driving force behind the campaign, achieving 1.1 million online social network friends. Earth Hour videos are being viewed online every 0.8 seconds.

Sun 29 March 2009 | 12:30 a.m.

Earth Hour kicks off for a record run from climate threatened Oceania

At 8.30 pm local time, residents of the Chatham Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean turned off light switches and kicked off the global Earth Hour rallying cry for decisive action on climate change from world leaders this year.

The call, endorsed earlier today by more than 3929 cities, towns and municipalities in 88 countries across 25 time zones, is expected to involve hundreds of millions of people turning off lights for an hour in what has been billed “a vote for earth”.

Chatham Island, with a population of about 600 living 800 km east of and in a different time zone to New Zealand’s main islands, is home to 20 percent of New Zealand’s threatened bird species, including the Chatham Island albatross. Scientists are concerned that isolated albatross populations may reduce their breeding rates as climate change and shifting weather fronts stretch the distances between their breeding and feeding grounds.

When Chatham residents wake up on Sunday morning their time, the Earth Hour effort will be in full force in Europe. Some 23 hours and 45 minutes after the first vote for climate action with a light switch was registered on Chatham Island, residents of Honolulu, Hawaii will be casting their votes against climate change.

First global landmarks turn off in New Zealand:

As Earth Hour commenced, some 996 global landmarks from mountains to historic buildings and modern architectural landmarks had officially registered to participate in the event. They include many of the world’s best loved and most recognised emblems including the Pyramids, the Acropolis, the Eiffel Tower, the dome of St Peter's in the Vatican, Table Mountain in South Africa and the Empire State Building.

In New Zealand, the first landmarks switched off, with photographers and film crews standing by to record the moment as the floodlights went off on the Auckland Sky tower, the Parliament buildings in Wellington and Christchurch Cathedral.

In Hamilton, more than 50,000 attended a live concert while in Christchurch, a newlywed couple held their first dance and wedding breakfast in the dark - all to celebrate Earth Hour, groom James Harrison told 3News television.

Overall, 44 cities, towns and regions in New Zealand took part.

“Tonight, New Zealand voted Earth and began in spectacular fashion the world’s biggest participation event ever,” said WWF New Zealand Executive Director Chris Howe.

“To all those who supported Earth Hour, and all those who took part, WWF thanks you. It could not have happened without you.”

Islands show support in the Pacific:

Fiji made the headlines last Earth Hour, when isolated Visoqo Village celebrated Earth Hour by turning their light switches on . . . for the first time. In the previous week, residents had busied themselves unpacking solar panels and installing them to provide the village's first and wholly renewable energy based electricity supply.

This year, the entire Fijian island of Taunovo faded into darkness while in capital, Suva, crowds gathered at Fiji's largest shopping centre where an “island-style” celebration was held, replete with people wearing bula shirts and playing guitars.

Pacific Island nations have emerged as strong campaigners for action on climate change globally, focussing on the threat rising sea and storm surge levels will have on communities scarce metres above the sea. Also threatened by warming waters are the fringing corals that are vital to food supplies and economic life in island communities and also serve as a buffer against tropical storms.

Climate threatened Australia makes strongest statement yet:

Sydney, Australia, where the Earth Hour phenomenon started just two years ago, was expected to record the highest participation rates on the planet among its population of over 4 million.

Crowds in their hundreds watched as its most recognisable landmarks, the Sydney Opera House and “the hanger”, Sydney’s famous Harbour Bridge, turned their lights off promptly as Earth Hour commenced. The two Sydney icons face each other across Circular Quay, the bay in one of the world’s greatest natural harbours.

Around Australia, 309 places from 46 cities to small remote outback communities such as Banana Shire had registered to take part in Earth Hour. Climate change impacts in the world’s driest continent are expected to be severe, with longer and more severe droughts and more frequent tropical storms.

Many Australian cities have spent extended periods under severe water restrictions and the risks of events such as bushfires have increased markedly. The country, one of the world’s largest coal exporters, joined the Kyoto Protocol on climate change recently.

WWF-Australia is working to have the country take a leading stance for effective climate action globally when the world meets to agree on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol in Copenhagen, Denmark, in December.

In Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, landmarks that faded into darkness for Earth Hour included historic Flinders Street Station and more modern attractions such as Federation Square, where a pedal-powered concert was scheduled, the Eureka Towers Skydeck and the RialtoTowers.

In Brisbane, the Castlemaine Perkins brewery turned off the famous neon lights of its XXXX Man, while in national capital, Canberra, all lights except security lighting were blacked out at the High Court of Australia, the National Library of Australia, the Australian War Memorial, and Parliament House.

Tourist attractions turning off around the country included the Big Banana, the Big Merino, the Big Wool Bales, the Big Pineapple, the Big Crab, the Big Shell, the Big Ned Kelly, the Big Rocking Horse, the Big Gumboat, the BigDNATower and the Big Penguin.

Thu 26 March 2009 | 10:43 a.m.

China, India and Emerging Countries Lead the Call for Action on Climate Change

Shanghai, New Delhi Government on board for Earth Hour.

Beijing the first city to conduct Earth Hour rehearsal.

Bollywood star Aamir Khan lends voice to global call for action on climate change.

On March 28, China, the world’s fastest developing economy, will signal to the rest of the world its readiness to address the issue of climate change. Organisers have already conducted a rehearsal to ensure that at 8.30pm the lights will go dark for Earth Hour on the Bird’s Nest Stadium, the Water Cube, Ling Long Tower and Pangu Plaza in Beijing. The Shanghai Government has officially announced its formal participation in Earth Hour 2009 and committed to turning out all municipal and district government office buildings. The Oriental Pearl Tower and the 492m high Shanghai World Financial Center will also go dark.

Countries with developing and emerging economies have emerged as the driving force behind the tremendous growth in this year’s campaign. Of the 83 countries currently participating in Earth Hour 2009, there are 47 with developing and emerging economies, up from the nine that took part last year. India, the world’s second most populated country with the second fastest growing economy, will join Earth Hour’s global call for action on climate change for the first time. The Government of Delhi is officially supporting Earth Hour and has starting appealing to citizens in leading national newspapers to turn off their lights on March 28. Bollywood star Aamir Khan has thrown his support behind the campaign saying “a failure to come to sound policy outcomes on climate change will not only have a negative environmental impact but also social and economic consequences for all of us.” Participation in Earth Hour will be widespread throughout India, with activities taking place in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Cochin, Thiruvananthapuram, Dehradun, Shimla, Chandigarh and Hyderabad. Students and educational institutions are showing tremendous support for Earth Hour in India. Mumbai’s best known landmarks, Reserve Bank and Air India buildings, and Indian Tourism Development Corporation’s flagship Ashok Hotel, are stated to switch off as will hundreds of other buildings across the city, including the offices of Indian IT giants like WIPRO and Infosys.

WWF's Global Climate Initiative China Director Ms. Yanli Hou said the strong support for Earth Hour in China and India is undermining one of the central arguments used in parts of the developed world to resist taking strong action on climate change."For too long people have been saying that they can't tackle climate change until China and India do so too. The success of Earth Hour shows that the people of these countries are in fact ready and willing to take the lead on climate change," said Ms Hou.

Other major cities in emerging and developing countries that are participating in Earth Hour include Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Beunos Aires, Jakarta, Istanbul, Seoul, Mexico City and Manila. “The role of developing economies is crucial to addressing the issue of climate change, particularly considering the UN Climate Change Conference is taking place later this year in Copenhagen. “If the developing world shows a commitment to sustainable economic development, leaders of developed nations will be obliged to follow their direction,” said Mr Ridley.

Wed 25 March 2009 | 9:55 a.m.

Great Pyramids of Giza to switch off for Earth Hour

• Athens to cast its vote for Earth by switching lights off at the Acropolis
• Empire State Building and Petronas Towers join list of modern marvels switching off for Earth Hour

March 24, 2009: At 8.30pm on March 28, the lights will go out on the Sphinx and Great Pyramids of Giza, as modern day Egyptians join Earth Hour’s global call for action on climate change.

Around five thousand years after their completion, Egypt’s Great Pyramids will stand as a key symbol of what can be achieved through collective action when around 2,400 cities and towns in 82 countries turn off their lights for Earth Hour.

Egypt’s First Lady, Her Excellency Madame Suzanne Mubarak, supports Earth Hour’s global call for action on climate change.

“Climate Change is a growing international crisis no country can afford to overlook. Global warming negatively impacts the environment as well as the health and livelihoods of people worldwide. The interconnected challenges of our time demand immediate, cooperative action.”, she said

“United together, we can and will make a difference. I am pleased to offer my support of Earth Hour and am encouraged by the World Wildlife Fund's sustainability initiatives. Earth Hour heightens awareness and brings hope to the preservation of our shared planet’s precious environment today and for generations to come.”, added Madame Mubarak.

The lights will also go out for Earth Hour on another of the ancient world’s great monuments, the Acropolis in Athens, a poignant icon in the birthplace of modern democracy for the world’s first global vote between Earth and climate change.

The symbolism of these antiquities’ involvement and that of two of Egypt’s modern icons, the Cairo Tower and Bibliotheca in Alexandria, has great significance for Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley.

“The combined efforts of Egypt’s Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Media and Information, Supreme Council of Antiquities and the fantastic support of adventure travel group, Abercrombie & Kent, has secured the participation of arguably the world’s greatest icon for Earth Hour.”, he said.

“This is another example of the unprecedented solidarity being generated by Earth Hour, with nations, cultures, races, religions and monuments of the ancient and modern worlds coming together to make possibly the most powerful statement on climate change the world has ever witnessed.”, said Mr Ridley.

Two great symbols of the twentieth Century, the Empire State Building in New York and Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, are the latest in a long list of modern marvels turning their lights out for Earth Hour. While the famous Arch of Wembley Stadium in London will fittingly turn off its lights during a ‘friendly’ International Football match.

With Earth Hour coordinators in Egypt, Abercrombie & Kent, pledging to hold Earth Hour vigils in their campsites across the globe, even the most remote corners of the world will be given the opportunity to Vote Earth.

Fri 20 March 2009 | 7 p.m.

UN Secretary General Urges Citizens To Join WWF's Earth Hour

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today urged citizens around the world to join WWF's Earth Hour to demand action on climate change.

In a video-taped address, the Secretary-General said that Earth Hour – which takes place on Saturday 28th March – promises to be “the largest demonstration of public concern about climate change ever attempted.”

“Earth Hour is a way for the citizens of the world to send a clear message. They want action on climate change.” said Secretary-General Ban.

Speaking just a week before Earth Hour rolls out across thousands of towns and cities across the globe, Ban underlined the seriousness of climate change and the need for a global climate deal to be agreed when the world's leaders meet in Copenhagen this coming December.

“People will be telling their representatives to seal a deal in Copenhagen. A deal at the climate change talks that will protect people and the planet. We need an ambitious agreement. An agreement that is fair and effective. An agreement based on sound science.”

Secretary-General Ban went on to underline the seriousness of climate change and the scale of the task ahead. “We are on a dangerous path. Our planet is warming. We must change our ways,” he said. “We need green growth that benefits all communities. We need sustainable energy for a more climate-friendly, prosperous world. This is the path of the future. We must walk it together.”

WWF's Earth Hour is being hailed as the biggest ever global movement – a vote for the future of planet earth. Hundreds of millions of people are expected to take part by switching off non-essential lighting for an hour. Cities from Las Vegas to Sydney, from Cape Town to Beijing will go dark for an hour.

Ban said that the United Nations would be doing its bit for Earth Hour. “In New York, we will switch out the lights at UN Headquarters. Other UN facilities around the world will also take part.”

And he concluded: “I urge citizens everywhere to join us. Please send a strong message on climate change. Together we can find a solution to this most serious of global challenges.”

Wed 18 March 2009 | 12:01 a.m.

Earth Hour 2009 – What Will You Be Doing?

Cuddling up with your loved ones and admiring the stars in the night sky or organising a treasure hunt in the dark? At 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for one hour - Earth Hour - and cast their vote for action on climate change. Anybody can participate and join together with millions of people across the globe celebrating Earth Hour.

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.

Here are 10 different ways to spend Earth Hour and reduce your carbon footprint:

1. Attend a local Earth Hour event or organise your own by throwing an Earth Hour street party with your neighbours
2. Gather family & friends for a night picnic in your local park and look at the stars
3. Enjoy a family dinner by candlelight
4. Organise a treasure hunt in the dark
5. Take the dog for a night walk
6. Have a candle-lit bath
7. Sit in the dark and share stories
8. Organise a family night playing board games
9. Share a romantic night in with your loved one
10. Upload your ‘on the night’ photos and videos to flickr and YouTube respectively, and then add them to the Earth Hour flickr group and the global YouTube Group.

Earth Hour Executive Director, Andy Ridley, is encouraging people to participate in whatever way they choose and to think beyond the hour.

“There are no hard and fast rules surrounding participation in Earth Hour. We only ask that you flick that switch and have fun doing whatever you choose to do during that time.

Make Earth Hour work for you. Families with young children should feel free to turn their lights off earlier than 8:30pm and for those having too much fun in the dark during the hour, don’t feel you have to limit yourself to one hour and switch back on at 9:30pm.”

To find out more about Earth Hour, visit the official website www.earthhour.org, sign up and join millions of people in more than 1,400 cities and towns in 80 countries throughout the world by turning off your lights for one hour at 8:30pm on Saturday 28 March.

Thu 12 March 2009 | 12:01 a.m.

Earth Hour Exceeds Target For Historic Event

• The number of cities and towns signed up to Earth Hour 2009 exceeds target of 1,000
• Global Earth Hour events heighten anticipation of historic moment

March 12, 2009: With over two weeks still to go before the globe switches off for Earth Hour, the number of cities and towns signing up to switch their lights off at 8.30pm on 28 March has already exceeded the ambitious target of 1,000 set by Earth Hour organisers.

Currently 1,189 cities and towns across 80 countries are committed, with more coming on board every day.

From the Chatham Islands to the Arctic Sea, people from all corners of the world will turn off their lights for Earth Hour to cast their vote for action on climate change.

The historic event will see millions of people gathered in parks, streets, town squares and homes around the world to witness the lights going out on iconic landmarks and city skylines, while taking in the atmosphere of some truly unique Earth Hour events.

In Sydney, where Earth Hour began in 2007, every ferry in the city’s famous harbour will sound its horn at precisely 8.30pm to herald the beginning of Earth Hour in Australia, while in Melbourne a people-pedal-powered concert will be underway at Federation Square.

On the other side of the world, arrangements will be underway for a host of concerts and parties in cities across Europe, including a ‘circle of percussion’ in Athens, where people will be given percussion instruments to play, led by a conductor, as the lights go out on the Acropolis.


In Oslo’s city centre, members of the public will take up the challenge of peddle-powered light bulbs, while residents in the city of Lisbon will sit down to an evening of outdoor candle-lit dining as they watch their city skyline go dark.

Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley, says Earth Hour is more than just a call to action on climate change.

“Earth Hour is an opportunity for the global community to speak in one voice on the issue of climate change, while at the same time coming together in celebration of the one thing every single person on the planet has in common – the planet,” he said.

With participation levels now exceeding all expectations, and with more cities and towns signing up every day to be a part of this historic event, the success of Earth Hour 2009 is limited only by the will of the global community to want a say in the future of their planet.

“Whether it’s joining your community in a town square to watch the city lights go dark or hosting a lights out party in your own home, I encourage everybody across the world to be a part of this historic occasion. Turn off your lights, celebrate the planet, enjoy the moment and cast your vote for Earth,” said Mr Ridley.

Tue 10 March 2009 | 12:01 a.m.

Earth Hour To Create Wave Of Participation Around The Globe

• Over 930 cities and towns in 80 countries, across 25 time zones to power down for Earth Hour 2009

• Global icons add to lights out spectacle

March 10, 2009: At precisely 8.30pm on March 28 the diesel generators will be switched off on the Chatham Islands, a small archipelago off the east coast of New Zealand, heralding the start of the greatest community event the world has ever witnessed - Earth Hour 2009.

As the first country to flick the switch for the global event, WWF New Zealand's Earth Hour organiser, Dairne Poole sees her country as playing a vital role in Earth Hour’s journey to reach one billion people in over 1,000 cities, across 25 time zones.

"New Zealand will be the first country in the world to turn its lights off for Earth Hour 2009 with 43 councils and local bodies taking part. Even though we are a small nation, we are setting an important example for others to witness and hopefully follow," says Ms Poole.

The global wave of participation will gather momentum through Asia Pacific with major cities such as Sydney, Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, Mumbai and Delhi dimming the lights as millions flick the switch to express their concern for the planet.

Across the globe Earth Hour will provide the platform for a collective voice to be heard from each and every time zone. From the streets of Cape Town to the Hills of Los Angeles, Earth Hour will unite people from all walks of life as the call for action on climate change makes its transglobal journey.

Paris, the ‘City of Lights’ will make a powerful statement by turning off its famous lights, including the Eiffel Tower, for Earth Hour. In the birthplace of democracy, thousands of Athenians will gather to watch the lights go out at the Acropolis in acknowledgement of their vote for action on climate change.

Metropolises across the Americas including New York, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Mexico City and Las Vegas will see their united voice accompanied by unfamiliar lighting – stars.

Earth Hour Executive Director, Mr Andy Ridley, said that Earth Hour signals the beginning of the journey to Copenhagen, where the future of the planet rests with world leaders.

“Earth Hour will focus global attention on addressing the issue of climate change. We are asking one billion people to take part in what is essentially the first global vote for action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour and casting a vote for earth,” he said.

“Earth Hour hopes to provide a global mandate for action on climate change to the world’s leaders at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December this year, where an agreement will be made to supersede the Kyoto Protocol.

“It is imperative this agreement leads to a sustainable outcome that suitably addresses climate change. Earth Hour presents an opportunity for every person in the world to have a say in that agreement’s outcome and ensure it isn’t merely an insubstantial token effort by our world’s leaders,” said Mr Ridley.

To view the Earth Hour Global Schedule click here.

Tue 03 March 2009 | 12:01 a.m.

Call For Social Media To Spread The Word For Earth Hour

With one month to go before the world switches off for Earth Hour 2009, organisers are calling on the social media community to help this year’s campaign to reach out to one billion people around the world.


Earth Hour is urging bloggers, podcasters, online video makers, mobile users and online social networkers to spread the word about the importance of turning your lights out for one hour at 8.30pm on March 28.


"Social media has proved it can be a powerful force for driving change, but when the stakes are as high as they have ever been, we really need the support of the online community for Earth Hour this year," said Earth Hour Executive Director Andy Ridley.


In December 2009 world leaders meet in Copenhagen to agree on a post-Kyoto policy for tackling climate change. One billion people voting with their light switch during Earth Hour will create a powerful mandate for our leaders to take strong and decisive action on climate change in Copenhagen.


WWF’s Earth Hour calls on the social media community to help spread the word by:


• Creating blog posts and podcasts about the importance of global action on climate change and how participation in Earth Hour can make a difference


• Joining one of the 50 Earth Hour social media profiles on networks such as Facebook, YouTube, MySpace, flickr and Twitter


• Creating a video and posting it on the web


• Embedding the codes to Earth Hour videos


• Downloading and sharing Earth Hour web banners, online badges, posters, wallpapers


• Mentioning Earth Hour in your status updates in the countdown to Earth Hour


• Registering on the http://www.earthhour.org/ website


"The open source nature of Earth Hour allows people to be highly creative in the way they drive the campaign forward. We encourage you to download, share and create your own material in support of Earth Hour," said Mr Ridley.



The Earth Hour campaign is already generating a strong online presence: every seven seconds a new mention about Earth Hour appears on the web; Earth Hour social profiles have over 230,000 friends and followers with a new connection every 20 seconds; and an Earth Hour video is viewed every 20 seconds online.


"The global online community can be the catalyst to Earth Hour 2009 reaching one billion people and delivering on its goal of compelling world leaders to really tackle climate change," Mr Ridley said.

Sun 01 March 2009 | 12:01 a.m.

28 Million Scouts to Mobilise for Earth Hour

• Community organisations around the world getting behind campaign
• Sweden to ring church bells, Sydney Ferries to sound horns
• National Education Association (US) lends support

The Scouts, the world's largest youth movement with more than 28 million members in 160 countries, lead thousands of community groups around the world mobilising their supporters for Earth Hour, the global expression of a desire for serious and sustained action on climate change.

“It is possible for everyone to take action against global warming," said Luc Panissod, Acting Secretary General of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, and James Leape, Director General of WWF International, in a joint letter to Scouting's global network earlier this month.

What was described as "an opportunity to talk to your neighbours about the environment and climate change" is the latest expression of a partnership between the Scouts and WWF that goes back decades.

"We see that Scouts all over the world have a great interest in the environment and are leaders in their community," said Luc Panissod. "Earth Hour offers an opportunity for Scouts to demonstrate this commitment to tackling climate change and engage with their family and friends."

"The young are vitally concerned with the future and many are well aware that climate change is the greatest threat to the planet’s future. We are delighted that the Scouts are again working with us to secure the environment for generations to come," said James Leape.

With more than 681 cities in 76 countries already signed up to turn their lights out on March 28, Earth Hour 2009 is shaping up as one of the greatest voluntary actions the world has ever seen.

Executive Director of Earth Hour, Mr Andy Ridley, said community groups are playing a vital role in getting more and more people from around the world engaged in the lights out campaign.

“Earth Hour is driven by citizens and grassroots groups thinking globally and acting locally. No matter how big or small your organisation, I urge you to get involved in Earth Hour and really make a difference in your community and in the world,” Mr Ridley said.

Among other community groups working to ensure the largest possible participation in Earth Hour is the Church of Sweden, which will ring its bells across the country to signal the start of Earth Hour at 8.30pm on March 28.

Sydney Ferries, which has been an enthusiastic supporter of Earth Hour since 2007, will this year be sounding the horns of all its ferries operating on Sydney Harbour, heralding Earth Hour in the city where the campaign first began.

In the United States the National Education Association, representing 3.2 million teachers and education professionals, has also pledged its support for Earth Hour, as has the 1.4 million-strong American Federation of Teachers.

Fri 20 February 2009 | 12:01 a.m.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu Supports Earth Hour Movement

Nobel Peace Prize recipient joins united call for action on climate change