WWF to ride the global wave of Earth Hour success
Following the success of Saturday's Earth Hour 2015, in which people and businesses all around the world switched off their lights at the same time in the "world's largest grassroots movement", campaign organiser WWF has vowed to continue the search for g
“From the Earth’s extremes to outer space, people came together to send a clear message that action on climate is on top of their agenda. Earth Hour confirms our belief that in order to change climate change we need to act together. WWF will continue to do its share to shape strong, global climate solutions,” said Sudhanshu Sarronwala, chairperson of Earth Hour Global. Earth Hour will celebrate its collective impact on the planet with supporters during its ten-year anniversary on March 19, 2016.
Over 1,400 landmarks around the world switched off the lights last Saturday, including the Empire State Building and the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Hong Kong’s iconic skyline. Close to 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, the walled city of Baku, the Cologne Cathedral and the Galapagos Islands also participated.
Earth Hour also powered collective actions to address local climate issues well beyond the hour. As Moscow’s Kremlin switched off the lights, citizens switched on their power for change by collecting nearly 70,000 signatures to petition a moratorium on the exploration of Arctic oil.
In Malaysia, citizens attended the first-ever Earth Hour 2015 carnival in Petaling Jaya and answered the call to come out in large numbers to show their support for a city council declaration to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent within the next five years.
In Colombia, 1,100 people enrolled in a ‘110KW’ marathon along a climate change trail highlighting the need for communities to strengthen their defences against the worst impacts of climate change.
More than just turning out the lights, the ninth edition of Earth Hour was about people around the world sending a clear message that climate action is a political priority. Supporters in Scotland, Switzerland and Colombia signed digital petitions for stronger climate action. Australia, the UK and Finland hosted sustainable candle-lit dinners to highlight the impact of climate change on agriculture, while participants in India, the Philippines and China promoted access to renewable energy.
Earth Hour 2015 by the numbers:
- Record participation by 172 countries and territories;
- Lights off at over 1,400 landmarks and close to 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites;
- Over 80 climate outcomes driven by WWF teams harnessing the power of Earth Hour;
- Social media reach of approximately 384 million (Facebook & Twitter) between 23 and 29 March;
- 300-plus ambassadors and influencers supported the campaign either on ground or digitally
