23 February 2010
Table Mountain in Cape Town is among the world landmarks that will go dark from 8.30pm to 9.30pm on 27 March, as part of the Earth Hour initiative which calls on individuals, businesses, governments and communities to turn off their lights for one hour to show their support for action on climate change.
The worldwide “switch off”, a global initiative of the WWF, aims to get billions of people in cities across the world to turn off their lights for one hour in a demonstration of support for determined international action on climate change.
Earth Hour co-founder and executive director Andy Ridley said the actions shown by cities of the world and their inhabitants were crucial to leading a low-carbon resolution to climate change.
“The C40 suggests that cities are responsible for up to 75% of the world’s carbon emissions, so their role in addressing what is unequivocally the greatest threat to the planet today is absolutely vital.
“By turning the lights off their landmarks for Earth Hour, cities are reflecting the aspirations of their citizens as a community that has resolved to take action on global warming,” Ridley said.
Iconic landmarks around the world, including the CN Tower in Toronto, Grand Palace in Bangkok, and the world’s second tallest building, Tapei 101, will plunge into darkness.
World-famous landmarks across the US, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Mount Rushmore, and even the lights of Las Vegas will also switch off in a decisive display of climate action from one of the most significant nations on the climate landscape.
In London, lights will dim on the world-famous London Eye as the Coca-Cola sign in Piccadilly Circus switches off, highlighting the resolve of its people, businesses and local governments to take action on climate change, while Hiroshima will become the first Japanese city to participate in the campaign.
The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2-million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50-million people around the globe participated.
In 2010, Earth Hour aims to reach out to 1-billion people in 1 000 cities.