WWF gets ready for Earth Hour

MANILA, Philippines - A conservation group has urged the public to participate in a switch-off activity that aims to deliver a powerful message about the need for decisive climate change solutions.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said its supporters can contribute much to climate action if they switch off their lights on March 25, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. for “Earth Hour 2017.”

WWF-Philippines president and CEO Joel Palma said the main switch-off event shall be held at SM by the Bay, Mall of Asia complex from 7 to 10 p.m. on March 25, Saturday.

“This year, there will be an Earth Hour Camp that will feature interactive climate adaptation and mitigation booths, specifically, native tree planting, renewable energy technologies, and disaster go-bag preparation. A large focus of #EarthHourPH2017 will be on galvanizing the youth to be the climate leaders of tomorrow,” Palma said.

He added, “while the theme of Earth Hour remains ‘Shining a Light on Climate Action,’ we took to heart the role of the youth as the key to further propel the country into a climate-resilient one. We continue to engage and encourage the public to emphasize that together, we thrive.”

Using the simple action of turning off lights for 60 minutes to deliver a powerful message about the need for climate change solutions, Earth Hour has grown in the past decade from a symbolic switch-off event in Sydney, Australia to the world’s largest open-sourced environmental campaign, catalyzing environmental and social projects with tangible outcomes, while mobilizing hundreds of millions of people in over 7,000 cities and 176 countries,

The Philippines has been championing the switch-off since 2008 and has topped global participation records from 2009 to 2012 – earning it the title of Earth Hour Hero Country.

Through the support of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Leagues of Municipalities, Cities and Provinces, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other government partners, Earth Hour in the Philippines has always been a success with each year witnessing a growing multi-sectoral support system, proving that more and more Filipinos believe in the message of Earth Hour.

Palma said 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 earthhour.org/climateaction after March 10.

Since 2007, 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, building sustainable livelihoods and driving climate-friendly legislation and policy.

“Earth Hour is definitely more than just the symbolic switch-off as it aims to bring concrete solutions, at a time when the challenges of climate change and environmental issues are all too real, yet showing the power of collective climate action,” said lawyer Gia Ibay, Earth Hour Philippines national director.