Earth Hour in Sydney on 31 March

At 19:30 on 31 March 2007, all of Sydney (Australia) – its companies, government, individuals and families – are being asked to turn off their lights for just one hour.

Turning off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – is recognized as a simple action that will send a powerful message that it is possible to take action on climate change. Organized by World Wildlife Australia and the Sydney Herald, Earth Hour is the launch of a year-long campaign to reduce Sydney’s greenhouse gas emissions by five percent. It is felt that this target could be achieved if all businesses and households turned off unused lights, and turned off appliances usually left on standby.

Organizers are hoping that the event will be a dramatic start to a campaign encouraging Australians to conserve energy by educating the community about the simple measures that can be taken to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

The CCP Campaign is an innovative international campaign that helps local government and their communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the environment. In Australia, the CCP is delivered through a collaboration between ICLEI-A/NZ and the Australian Government through the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO), Department of the Environment and Water Resources.

Sydney is one of 95 local governments in Australia that are currently Members of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability. For more information on ICLEI and its activities in the Oceania Region, please visit www.iclei.org/oceania.

Source: “Australia’s biggest city plans to shut off lights in global warming gesture”, International Herald Tribune, 24 March 2007.