IUCN Statement | 23 Mar, 2011

Message from IUCN's Director General for Earth Hour – 8:30pm, 26 March

A message from IUCN Director General, Julia Marton-Lefèvre for Earth Hour – 8:30pm, Saturday 26 March.

Photo: IUCN/Ewa Magiera

On Saturday 26 March 2011, cities across the world will turn off their lights for Earth Hour, an event designed to raise awareness about climate change and symbolize how working together, the people of the world can make a difference in the fight against global warming.

Earth Hour has grown from a single event in Sydney, Australia in 2007 to a global phenomenon. Last year we saw the biggest Earth Hour ever. A record 128 countries joined the global display of climate action with hundreds of millions of people taking part in what was the world’s largest ever voluntary action. The lights of prestigious buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas were switched off.

This year participants are asked to go ‘Beyond the Hour’ by getting involved in a wide range of environmental initiatives that go beyond Earth Hour.

Already the likes of Caesars Entertainment Corporation, will switch off the lights of the iconic Caesars Palace and Flamingo Casino in Las Vegas for Earth Hour, along with a host of other properties along the famous entertainment strip and around the world celebrating their commitment to a range of environmental initiatives that go 'Beyond the Hour'.

The goal now is to get even more businesses and individuals to participate in this historic event, through which they can show the world that addressing climate change is one of the most critical issues facing our world today.

This is now a global movement which IUCN wholeheartedly supports – as this movement grows we encourage more cities and communities to participate in Earth Hour.

LINKS:

Earth Hour website