Opinion split on the city’s apparent refusal to take part in Earth Hour power reduction
Maybe Calgary should lobby to have an Earth Minute instead of the globally recognized Earth Hour. Perhaps then our notoriously indifferent city might have a chance.
Every year Calgary fails to power down perceptively during the world event, which will be marked Saturday from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.
A World Wildlife Fund initiative launched in Australia in 2007 and copied worldwide in 2008, Earth Hour encourages citizens to turn off their non-essential lights and electronics for one hour in the evening on the final Saturday in March to raise awareness about climate change. More than 170 countries, — including Samoa which joined last year — and more than 10,400 of the world’s most iconic landmarks took part in 2015.
But while others celebrate big reductions, Calgarians seem to have a penchant for power.
In 2015, an Enmax spokeswoman reported there was an “imperceptible change” in power use in Calgary when Earth Hour was observed.
“If anything, the usage went up slightly from the previous hour,” said Doris Kaufmann Woodcock.
In 2014, electricity use in the city dropped a minimal 0.05 per cent during the hour. In 2013, there was no identifiable change in power usage and in the years prior Calgary’s energy demand barely budged during Earth Hour. And in 2008, energy consumption in Calgary famously spiked by 3.6 per cent during earth hour. The boost was blamed on a cold snap that settled over the city. Thanks to that increase, the Wikipedia page for Earth Hour mentions Calgary with the dubious distinction of the worst result in the world.
Is it indifference or is the city actively thumbing its nose at the environmental movement?
Calgary novelist Will Ferguson who writes about Canadian culture thinks it may come down to our famous individualism.
“I think Calgarians don’t like being told what to do. We tend to put a lot more (emphasis) on individual initiatives rather than we’re all going to collectively hug each other.
“I’m not a fan of mandatory, voluntary involvement and I’m not a fan of empty gestures that make us feel good but don’t really effect any change.”
Ferguson points out that Calgary is one of the greener cities in North America, using 100 per cent wind power to propel its CTrains. “If put in the balance, Calgary probably does more than a lot of larger, industrial cities ... I think real commitment is more important than symbolic commitment.”
The WWF says Earth Hour is about more than just turning out the lights for one night. It is harnessing the support of participants around the world to send a clear message that climate action is a political priority.
Green Calgary’s executive director acknowledges that Earth Hour is symbolic but says that doesn’t mean it can’t have impact.
“It makes us conscious of what we’re using,” said Areni Kelleppan. “No, we won’t change things in one hour of one day in one year, but it makes us think about what is turned on. Do we need all those lights on, do we need all these things plugged in?”
A free Calgary Unplugged event co-hosted by the city and Green Calgary runs from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Confluence Plaza on St. Patrick’s Island. Event-goers will help power music and lights on bikes provided by Open Streets Calgary and there will be kids’ na- ture games and activities and an LED lantern and drum parade.
There is no access to the event from Memorial Drive through Zoo Road due to ongoing construction related to the Calgary Zoo flood mitigation.