WASHINGTON, March 26, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. local time, individuals, businesses, cities and landmarks around the world will switch off their lights for one hour to focus attention on climate change. Since originating in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour, a global event organized by World Wildlife Fund, has grown into the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment. This year, as lights go out, Earth Hour is more than just a celebration of our commitment to the planet, it sends a collective call for action to change climate change.
"Coming off the warmest year on record, more than ever Earth Hour arrives at a critical time to ignite climate action," said Lou Leonard, vice president for climate change, World Wildlife Fund. "Just as the nations of the world are preparing their commitments for the UN climate talks in Paris, millions of people across the globe will celebrate Earth Hour and send an inspiring call for strong climate action."
Saturday will mark the largest Earth Hour celebration ever, with 172 countries and territories and more than 7,000 cities participating. From Sydney to San Francisco, millions of people and more than 1,200 iconic landmarks, including One Times Square in New York, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco will go dark, shedding light on a global movement to protect our planet.
"The world is facing a climate crisis. Without action, humanity, wildlife and the planet we know and love will suffer," said Jared Leto, World Wildlife Fund Global Ambassador. "Join people around the world for Earth Hour, and turn off your lights for one hour on March 28th at 8:30 p.m. to show your commitment to climate change action. It's our time to speak up and demand a better future for our planet."
Each year, Earth Hour supporters come together to show their commitment to protecting wildlife, forests and communities impacted by climate change. While turning off the lights for an hour serves as a symbolic gesture, everyone is encouraged to go beyond the hour to demonstrate each person's power to fight climate change. Simple individual actions from lowering the thermostat on the hot water heater, to switching to renewable energy, or even simply biking, walking or taking public transportation to work, all have a global impact.
To learn more about Earth Hour visit worldwildlife.org/EarthHour.
About World Wildlife Fund
WWF is one of the world's leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and follow our news conversations on Twitter @WWFnews.