Today, March 30, we switch off the lights for Earth Hour 2019.
On its 12th year, Earth Hour is considered as one of the largest environment grassroots movement. It is spearheaded by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines. Earth Hour started as a campaign to engage people and create significant environmental action against climate change. It is now a platform that aims to raise awareness on the importance of biodiversity as a viable resource.
WWF-Philippines Head of Climate and Energy Program and Earth Hour Pilipinas National
Director Atty. Gia Ibay shares “The last decade of Earth Hour has contributed so much to the global climate agenda and has paved the way for many conservation wins. Now that we are ushering in the second year of the movement’s new decade, our efforts will still be centered on raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity to counter the worsening impacts of climate change.”
Earth Hour 2019 Theme: #Connect2Earth
This 2019, WWF focuses on the issue of single-use plastics and how it addressing it can help reverse the loss of nature. #Connect2Earth was last year’s Earth Hour theme. During its launch, more than 17,900 landmarks and monuments in more than 180 countries and territories switched off their lights. The turning off of lights is a symbolic act tof commitment to and support for raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity.
#Connecr2Earth and #EarthHour trended and garnered more tha 3.5 billion impressions in 2018. This year, WWF hopes to surpass this achievement and raise better awareness about the importance of conserving biological diversity and the urgency of reducing the use of single-use plastics.
Single-use plastics is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. WWF-Philippines has also launched the #AyokoNgPlastik movement. Leveraging on its momentum, WWF-Philippines hopes to further increase the awareness, spark conversations, and change mindsets and habits of consumers. Businesses are expected to operate sustainably. And there is hope that the movement can influence policy towards more sustainable laws.
“The Philippines is the 3rd major plastic polluter of oceans in the world and we, Filipinos, must unite and create concrete steps to stop this worsening situation. We have to realize how nature is vitally important in our daily lives and preventing single-use plastics from entering nature is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable planet,” according to WWF-Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma.
Switch Off Today
Today, Earth Hour 2019 will have its main switch-off event at the Circuit Event Grounds in Makati from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. The actual switch-off at 8:30 pm.
Everyone is encouraged to switch off non-essential lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm in solidarity with millions around the world who will do the same.
Share your experience and help contribute awareness to conserve biological diversity and decrease the use of single-use plastics. Use the official hashtags #Connect2Earth, #EarthHourPH2019, and #AyokoNgPlastik.
More importantly, commit to a more sustainable lifestyle all year round. Share your sustainable lifestyle stories and pledges at the Earth Hour Philippines’ Event Page at http://bit.ly/EarthHourPH2019.
Join facebook.com/groups/ayokongplastik to engage in conversations on plastics. Visit www.earthhour.org to know the Earth Hour events around the world and read stores on individual efforts for sustainability. Log on to connect2earth.org to share ideas and tools to push for action and change.
Follow us on social media for more information about events in Davao. Our Facebook Page is at http://www.facebook.com/MyDavaoCity. We are @MyDavaoCity on Instagram and @MyDavaoCity on Twitter.