• Golden Gate Bridge, London Eye, Table Mountain and Taipei 101 to switch off for Earth Hour 2010
• 75 landmarks around the world already signed up to lead a global display of climate action
Iconic landmarks around the world will switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2010, joining hundreds of millions of people across every continent committed to resolving the issue of global warming.
At 8.30pm on Saturday, March 27 some of the world’s most recognised symbols of hope, peace, human endeavour and natural wonder will plunge into darkness for Earth Hour as a powerful sign of the unrelenting resolve of the global community to respond to the threat of climate change.
CN Tower in Toronto, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Grand Palace in Bangkok and the world’s second tallest building Taipei 101 will go dark for Earth Hour. While a host of world-famous landmarks across the US, including the Golden Gate Bridge, Empire State Building, Mount Rushmore and even the lights of Las Vegas, will switch off in a decisive display of climate action from one of the most significant nations on the climate landscape.
Some of the world’s great metropolises will ‘flick the switch’ on their signature landmarks, marking their dedication to sustainable development and joining their citizens in adopting low-carbon practices.
In London, lights will dim on the world-famous London Eye as the Coca-Cola sign in Piccadilly Circus switches off, highlighting the resolve of its people, businesses and local governments to take action on climate change. Hiroshima will become the first Japanese city to show its commitment to global climate action when the lights go out on its iconic Peace Memorial at 8.30pm on March 27.
The actions shown by cities of the world and their inhabitants are crucial to leading a low-carbon resolution to climate change, says Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.
“The C40 suggests that cities are responsible for up to 75% of the world’s carbon emissions, so their role in addressing what is unequivocally the greatest threat to the planet today is absolutely vital,” Andy said.*
“By turning the lights off their landmarks for Earth Hour, cities are reflecting the aspirations of their citizens as a community that has resolved to take action on global warming,” he said.
As Earth Hour has grown from a one-city initiative in 2007 to a global phenomenon in 2009, renowned icons, including the Great Pyramids, Eiffel Tower, the Coliseum, Christ the Redeemer statue, Buckingham Palace, Beijing’s Olympic Stadium and many more world-famous landmarks have joined the global community in showing leadership on a resolution to climate change.
“That’s what Earth Hour is about; communities showing what they can achieve by working together,” Andy added.
The recently released Earth Hour 2010 video provides a powerful and inspiring montage of the world’s most recognized landmarks contributing to the greatest display of civil action the world has ever witnessed.
Custodians and governing authorities of landmarks wishing to participate can contact WWF officers or Earth Hour teams in their home countries or pledge support at earthhour.org.
Through Earth Hour’s ever-expanding social media network, which is now well into the millions, citizens of the world are also being encouraged to play a key role in switching off the lights of their favourite icons by creating public demand with their landmark suggestions.
Earth Hour 2010 is set to be a landmark moment on global warming. Tell us in the comments below which iconic landmark of the world you would like to see switch off its lights for Earth Hour?
*The C40 Climate Leadership Group is a group of the world’s largest cities committed to tackling climate change. They state on their website that cities are responsible for up to 75% of the world’s greenhouse gas emmissions: http://www.c40cities.org/climatechange.jsp.>
