As climate change impacts some of Australia’s most incredible natural places, WWF-Australia www.earthhour.org.au is calling on supporters to take action to change climate change and help protect the #PlacesWeLove.
Earth Hour is a global moment of solidarity for climate action and comes only months after governments agreed a new global climate deal.
As the lights dim in homes, offices and landmarks, the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment will once again bring together millions of people to shine a light on climate action and the role people can play in global efforts to change climate change.
“The world is at a climate crossroads,” said Siddarth Das, Executive Director, Earth Hour Global. “While we are experiencing the impacts of climate change more than ever, we are also witnessing a new momentum in climate action transcending borders and generations. From living rooms to classrooms and conference rooms, people are demanding climate action. This tenth edition of Earth Hour is our time to ensure people are empowered to be a part of climate solutions.”
This Saturday, as more than 350 of the world’s most iconic landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, Taipei 101 and the Sydney Opera House prepare to switch off their lights, individuals around the world will switch on their power to make climate change history. From lending their voice to the planet through Earth Hour’s ongoing ‘Donate Your Social Power’ campaign, to signing petitions for climate policy and making individual pledges for sustainable living, millions will celebrate their potential to help build a better future for the planet and future generations.
“Earth Hour reminds us that while people are on the frontlines of climate change, they are also our first line of defense,” said Das. “Our actions today, as individuals and the global community, have the power to transform what the world will look like for generations to come—the time to act against climate change is now.”
To date in 2016, Earth Hour has powered more than 530,000 individual actions taken to help change climate change. Whether it is rallying individuals to participate in reforestation efforts in Georgia and Indonesia, promoting a switch to renewables in Uganda and India, spreading awareness on sustainable food in Italy and Australia or encouraging sustainable lifestyles in Chile and China, WWF and Earth Hour teams across six continents are harnessing the movement to mobilize public action on climate change in the lead up to the hour and throughout the year.
This year, supporters have also been invited to share their commitment to the planet by donating their own personal landmarks—their Facebook feeds and social media profile pictures—to Earth Hour to inspire their friends and communities to join the movement.
“Whether it is the flick of a switch or the click of a mouse, Earth Hour’s enduring appeal lies in its ability to connect people and show them that we all stand united in our ambition to change climate change,” added Das.
Social media users can promote their commitment to the planet by donating their Facebook feeds to spread climate awareness and action in a few clicks on www.earthhour.org/climateaction. Users can also add a custom-made Earth Hour filter to their profile pictures on Facebook and Twitter to show they believe this is our time to change climate change.
“Social media knows no physical boundaries and neither does climate change,” said Das. “A simple action on social media is the kind of powerful statement that can excite friends and communities to be a part of the climate action we need to take on this global challenge.”
With the innovative ‘Donate Your Social Power’ Facebook app, created by Earth Hour in collaboration with creative agency iris Worldwide, supporters around the world can share climate information that matters most to them.
By donating their timelines, users can invite friends and followers to discover how people and communities are helping protect #PlacesWeLove in Australia such as the World Heritage Forests in Tasmania and the Great Barrier Reef or how they can be a part of India’s ambition to #GoSolar. They can also collectively shine a light on the most pressing climate issues facing countries, people and wildlife in Latin America and be a part of Africa’s efforts to change climate change by helping protect forests and promoting access to climate education and renewable energy.
“Climate action today will decide the future of our planet for generations to come. As more people sign up, an increasing number of individuals will be able to see how climate action starts with each of us, here and now,” said Das. “Earth Hour empowers each individual—through a social event, interactive campaigns or through social networks—to be a part of making climate change history.”
This year marks Earth Hour’s tenth lights out event. In the past nine years, WWF and Earth Hour teams worldwide have harnessed the power of the movement to raise support and funds for access to renewable energy, protection of wildlife and their habitats, build sustainable livelihoods and drive climate-friendly legislation and policy.
In 2016, Earth Hour will continue to power grassroots efforts to change climate change including driving a petition for 100 per cent renewable energy in Spain, protecting forests and biodiversity in Africa and helping devise a comprehensive solution to Southeast Asia’s persistent haze crisis by working with governments, businesses and civil society simultaneously on peatland protection and sustainable palm oil.
Earth Hour 2016 will be celebrated on Saturday, 19 March 2016 between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time. Log on to www.earthhour.org for more stories and articles on teams using the Earth Hour movement to shine a light on climate action. This is our time to change climate change.
Australia’s Culinary Elite Release Earth Hour Cookbook
This year, Earth Hour is about celebrating Australian food and farming and reminding us of the need to tackle global warming for the sake of our rural communities and the supply of fresh, healthy and homegrown food to our door.
Burning fossil fuels such as coal and gas makes global warming worse, contributing to more extreme weather and droughts that threaten farming communities and Australia’s supply of fresh food.
As well as being a collection of the very best recipes from the country’s top chefs, Planet to Plate is full of information on how global warming is already affecting produce we enjoy everyday including fresh vegetables, cereals, bread and fruit.
Purchase The Earth Hour Cookbook for yourself or as a gift. All proceeds go to supporting Earth Hour’s work with schools, small business and community groups. https://earthhour.org.au/cookbook-purchase/
