Lights-off for the planet #EarthHourPH2017
With a new era of climate action underway, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) again urges its supporters to switch-off and shine a light on climate action.
Today, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., Earth’s most iconic landmarks will once more switch-off their lights for Earth Hour 2017. Earth Hour Philippines’ main switch-off event shall be held at SM by the Bay, Mall of Asia Complex from 7:00 to 10:00 later tonight. This year, there will be an Earth Hour Camp starting at 4:00 p.m. 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. Members of our National Youth Council will lead the Earth Hour Camp while two new WWF youth ambassadors will be introduced along with the official WWF-Philippines song. “While the theme of Earth Hour remains at 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,” says WWF-Philippines president and CEO Joel Palma.
Last March 8 in Discovery Suites, Ortigas Center, WWF national ambassador Marc Nelson and WWF National Youth Council chairperson Alexa Cancio led the launch of this year’s Earth Hour celebration. With a sneak peek of what is to come, everyone was abuzz with the Earth Hour camp to be spearheaded by the youth, and a switch-off powered by human energy to light up an image of the Earth.
With the simple action of turning off lights for 60 minutes to send a powerful message about the need for decisive climate change solutions, Earth Hour has grown 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 2013 — earning it the title of Earth Hour Hero Country. Through the support of the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Leagues of Municipalities, Cities, and Provinces, Metro 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.
This year’s event was made possible with the support of SM by the Bay, SM Cares, SM Supermalls, Philips Lighting Electronics Inc., Pure Energy Holdings Corp., Summit Natural Drinking Water, Energy Development Corp., Bambike Ecotours and BNB Racks. WWF-Philippines also welcomes other supporters, encouraging them to to join this year’s Earth Hour to further amplify its power and reach.
Social media users can promote their commitment to the planet by donating their Facebook feeds to spread climate awareness and action.Everyone is highly encouraged to use the official hashtags, #EarthHourPH2017 and #ChangeClimateChange as well as to upload the best their photo(s) of their event on to the official Facebook event page.
Since 2007, WWF and Earth Hour teams worldwide have been harnessing 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 climatefriendly legislation and policy. “Earth Hour is definitely more than just the symbolic switchoff,” stressed lawyer Gia Ibay, Earth Hour Philippines national director, “as it aims to bring concrete solutions, at a time when challenges of climate change and environmental issues are all too real, yet showing the power of collective climate action.”