Lights out – global Earth Hour campaign launches in Canberra

On 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2,100 Sydney businesses turned off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – reducing Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for that hour. At 8pm on Saturday 29 March 2008, Canberra will join other cities around the world in switching off its lights for one hour to take a stand against global warming.

The ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope launched Earth Hour in Canberra at the Mount Stromlo Observatory on Friday 15 February.

Canberra joins many cities around the globe participating in Earth Hour 2008, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Chicago, Toronto, Tel Aviv, Copenhagen, Christchurch, Manila and Suva.

“Earth Hour 2008, with its international contingent, hopes to spread the message that reducing the world’s emissions is a shared global responsibility,” said WWF-Australia CEO Greg Bourne. “WWF-Australia is inviting towns, cities and communities around the world to sign on.

“Earth Hour is about taking simple steps everyday that collectively reduce carbon emissions – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby.”

ActewAGL CEO John Mackay said, “ActewAGL is committed to environmentally sustainable practices and we’re proud to demonstrate this commitment by being a major supporter of the Earth Hour initiative, along with WWF-Australia, The Canberra Times, Canberra CBD Limited and the ACT Government.

“The success of Earth Hour depends largely on the participation of each city’s corporate sector. We are anticipating fantastic support from Canberra’s business community to help make Earth Hour a huge success both locally and internationally.

“Its also important to remember that the greenest unit of energy is the one that we don't use at all.”

Mr Stanhope said, “Earth Hour sends a powerful message – that each of us can help combat climate change through the actions we take and the behaviours we change in our own lives.

“I encourage all Canberrans to demonstrate our city’s commitment to the issue of climate change by getting behind this movement and switching off for one hour, Earth Hour, on Saturday 29 March.”

Sign up online and contact the ACT Earth Hour Team at earthhour@actewagl.com.au for further information.