Go Green and save

We want WWF's Earth Hour to be biggest climate change event ever

DELIGHTED: WWF Chief Executive David Nussbaum's backing Earth Hour

By David Nussbaum, Chief Executive of WWF, 15/02/2009

WE want WWF’s Earth Hour to be the biggest global event on climate change ever. To do this we are encouraging everyone to get involved from individuals, communities, schools to businesses.

We are delighted to be working with the News of the World.

This campaign is a fantastic opportunity to reach the British people and inspire them to take positive action on climate change.

News of the World readers could play a big part in making WWF’s Earth Hour a massive success in the UK and sending a strong signal to the Government that they care about climate change.

The initiative has already won broad support from big business including Coca-Cola and IKEA to the WI and the Girl Guides.

It is backed by high profile people such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Cate Blanchett and Boris Johnson.

Businesses and local authorities in 375 cities across 74 countries have already committed to take part including London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Beijing, Rome and Moscow.

Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong, Dubai, Singapore, Athens, Buenos Aires, Toronto, Sydney, Mexico City, Las Vegas,Cape Town and Helsinki.

Action

Earth Hour will also see the lights go out on some of the most recognised landmarks on the planet, such as Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Merlion in Singapore, Sydney Opera House, CN Tower in Toronto, Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the world’s tallest constructed building Taipei 101.

But Earth Hour is not about sitting in the dark for an hour worrying over the horrors of climate change but having a candlelit dinner with friends or family or organising a lights out event at your local pub, whilst knowing you are making a difference.

By switching off our lights for one hour on Saturday March 28th we will be sending a strong signal to governments around the world that we want greater action on climate change.

When world leaders meet in Copenhagen later this year to discuss targets to cut emissions we want them to look back and remember Earth Hour and that everyone is relying on them to do what is right.

The impacts of climate change could be devastating to people and animals around the world but it is not too late to prevent the worst of them if we act now. Earth Hour is a great opportunity to show governments that they have public backing to protect the planet for future generations to come.