25 March 2011 | Tierney Smith
Climate Change, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, South America

 

Businesses across the UK will be turning their lights out tomorrow night (26 March) to mark WWF’s Global Earth Hour.

Earth Hour will see homes, businesses and organisations switching off their lights for an hour from 8:30 on Saturday night, plunging the skylines to darkness in a global call for action against climate change.

Deborah Meaden, WWF-UK ambassador and Dragon’s Den judge said: “WWF’s Earth Hour is a fantastic opportunity for UK businesses to take part in a truly global event to show that they care about our planet and tackling climate change. It’s more important than ever for companies to start taking action and work towards a greener future.”

This years’ event will see landmarks across the UK from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, to the National Gallery, Old Trafford and Edinburgh Castle, be joined by businesses including Coca Cola, Ikea, TGI Fridays, Radisson hotel group and the Body shop.

HSBC has offices and branches in 60 countries taking part in the event. Simon Martin, head of HSBC group corporate sustainability, said: “For HSBC, Earth Hour is a way of increasing awareness among our employees, customers and the wider public of the continued importance of consuming our resources responsibly. Climate change remains a clear challenge to society and it is vital that we all play our part in responding to that challenge.”

Company employees have been encouraged not only to switch off the lights for Earth Hour 2011, but also to take part in various initiatives including environmental quizzes, Earth Hour pledges and photo competitions.

In the UK HSBC say they have had a brilliant response from employees at their Canary Wharf HQ, making pledges and going beyond the hour committing to longer term actions to benefit the environment.

However, it is not only for large businesses. A spokesperson for WWF asks everyone to get involved saying “we have local businesses and local authorities across the UK taking part in Earth Hour as well as large corporates.”

An estimated 128 countries and 4,000 cities will be involved in this year’s switch off, and WWF hope it will top the 10 million people who took part last year.

Started in Sydney, Australia in 2007, when 2,000 businesses turned out their lights at once, it has since grown each year, to include more than just lights. Events surrounding this year switch off will include cyclists in London powering projection images by cycling around the Royal Albert Hall and a candlelit walk in Newcastle and Gateshead where student groups will meet in the middle of the river to watch the switch off.

Andy Ridley, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Earth Hour hopes the idea will remain long after the hour is up.

He said: “Earth Hour is a chance for people and communities across the globe to join together with the common purpose of a sustainable future for our planet. This year Earth Hour asks people to commit to an action, big or small, for the coming year, taking Earth Hour beyond the hour.”

 

Image: Judepics | flickr
 

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