What is Earth Hour? One hour of darkness across the globe as hundreds of millions of people switch off for WWF’s Earth Hour. From New York to Sydney - iconic landmarks and communities all around the world will turn off their lights to show they care about the future of our planet.
When is it? On Saturday 23rd March between 8.30pm and 9.30pm.
Why: In the UK we are consuming three times our fair share of the world’s natural resources. To ensure a brighter future our planet relies on us moving away from unsustainable dirty fossil fuels and towards cleaner, greener energy. So, as the lights go out this year people will be asked to show their support for energy that works with the power of nature, not against it.
People are encouraged to register their support at wwf.org.uk/earthhour and join the list of millions of WWF supporters, including a host of celebrities, who will be taking part.
WWF-UK will be celebrating Earth Hour with an exclusive night at The Southbank Centre in London where, for the first time ever, we will be streaming live content around this year’s switch offs and planned activities. There will also be a special acoustic performance from avid Earth Hour supporters McFly who have been taking part in a series of quirky challenges throughout the campaign whilst donning panda onesies (see a clip of them here doing a special Harlem Shake for Earth Hour: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDckpDep6WE). Also at the event – the winners of WWF’s Hidden Heroes competition – to find amazing eco-champions up and down the UK – will be officially announced.
So much has been happening around this year’s event. We have:
• Switch offs from key London and UK landmarks confirmed: Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, BFI Imax, The London Eye, Edinburgh Castle, Brighton Pier, Durham Cathedral, Windsor Castle and many more!
• Celebrity support, with McFly taking part in an ‘I Will If You Will’ challenge and Graeme Le Saux promoting our Hidden Heroes competition. We’ve also had exclusive recipes designed especially for Earth Hour by celebrity chefs Gordon Ramsay and Raymond Blanc , as well as exclusive audiobooks from Rudyard Kipling’s famous children’s tales from the ‘Just So’ series read by WWF ambassadors Kevin McCloud, Miranda Richardson and Alistair McGowan.
Globally, we have incredible support from individuals, businesses and organisations in over 7,000 cities in 152 countries, including the US, Russia and China. With iconic landmark switch offs like The Empire State building, the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China, to support from famous actress Jessica Alba who will be taking part in an ‘I Will If You Will Challenge’, who knows how far this year’s Earth Hour will reach.
English pop band McFly said: “This year we are supporting WWF’s Earth Hour. To be part of this all you need to do is switch off at 8:30pm for an hour on Saturday 23rd March. Go on, do it in the dark…we are!”
Sarah Beeny, property developer and television presenter, said: “I’ve always been passionate about the environment and it’s great to see WWF’s Earth Hour continuing to inspire people around the globe. I have supported WWF for a long time and I am always trying to help people be more green within their homes and this is such a simple idea: just switch off your lights on 23 March. Whether you spend it celebrating with friends or family over dinner, or reading a good book by candle light, you’re just a flick of a switch away from joining hundreds of millions of people reflecting on our planet and taking action to protect it.”
Kirsty Gallacher, one of the most recognisable television presenters in the UK, said: “For years WWF’s Earth Hour has inspired hundreds of millions of people around the globe to protect our planet. It’s a powerful but simple idea – turning your lights off for one hour in a huge, symbolic show of support. It’s also your chance to take action – so whether you stay in with the family, have your friends round for dinner or organise a celebration as the lights go out on 23 March, I hope you’re inspired to join me in taking some quick and simple steps that help reduce your environmental impact.”
To follow WWF’s Earth Hour on Facebook/Twitter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EarthHourUK?fref=ts or;
Join in on Twitter with #DOITINTHEDARK
WWF is one of the world's largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. We're working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live. Find out more about our work, past and present at www.wwf.org.uk
Last year over 7 million people in the UK took part in WWF’s Earth Hour. This unique global phenomenon encourages every corner of the globe to switch off for one hour and includes iconic landmarks such as The Houses of Parliament, the Sydney Opera House and the Taj Mahal.
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