Earth Hour to show landmark action on climate change
(Toronto: February 22, 2010) – At 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 27 iconic landmarks around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2010, joining millions of people across every continent who are committed to resolving climate change.
The CN Tower, Lions Gate Bridge, and Mont-Royal Cross will join global landmarks including Table Mountain in Cape Town, Grand Palace in Bangkok, and the Empire State Building and Mount Rushmore in the US. In Canada, already 70 cities are signed up – more than at this time last year.
Some of the world’s great metropolises will ‘flick the switch’ on their signature landmarks, marking their dedication to sustainable development and a clean, green future.
In London, lights will dim on the world-famous London Eye along with the Coca-Cola sign in Piccadilly Circus. Hiroshima will become the first Japanese city to show its commitment to global climate action when the lights go out on its iconic Peace Memorial.
The actions shown by cities of the world and their inhabitants are crucial to leading a low-carbon resolution to climate change, says Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
“The C40 suggests that cities are responsible for up to 75 per cent of the world’s carbon emissions, so their role in addressing what is unequivocally the greatest environmental threat to the planet today is absolutely vital,” Ridley said.* “By turning the lights off for Earth Hour, cities are reflecting the aspirations of their citizens as a community that has resolved to take action on global warming.”
Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative in 2007 to a global phenomenon in 2009. “That’s what Earth Hour is about,” says Ridley, “communities showing what they can achieve by working together.”
People, cities and landmarks can show leadership on climate action by pledging their support for Earth Hour at www.EarthHourCanada.org.
Earth Hour 2010 is set to be a landmark moment on global warming, showing the world what can be done.
-30-
For more information:
Tara Wood, Head of Press, WWF-Canada, 416-484-7710, [email protected]
Kirsten Hodgon, Communications Director, Earth Hour Global, Tel: +61 (0) 424 507 095
E: [email protected]
Note to editors:
• Images of landmarks switching off for Earth Hour 2009 can be found at the Earth Hour Media Centre on www.earthhour.org.
• The Earth Hour 2010 video: http://www.youtube.com/earthhour2009
• The Earth Hour Canada 2010 video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7NghDLtN44
• Earth Hour’s social media network reaches millions of citizens around the world. You can find them at www.facebook.com/earthhour and www.twitter.com/earthhour.
• Canadian social media: www.facebook.com/earthhourcanada or www.twitter.com/earthhourcanada
*The C40 Climate Leadership Group is a group of the world’s largest cities committed to tackling climate change. They state on their website that cities are responsible for up to 75 per cent of the world’s greenhouse gas emmissions: http://www.c40cities.org/climatechange.jsp.