Dumfries and Galloway Council is helping to build a brighter future by supporting WWF’s Earth Hour, a spectacular and symbolic lights out event that focuses the world’s attention on our planet, and the need to protect it.
On 28th March, at 8.30pm, Council Headquarters in Dumfries, will be joining forces with thousands of iconic landmarks globally, from The Sydney Harbour Bridge to Times Square in New York, as they show their support. Earth Hour’s unique display of darkness has become a global phenomenon with hundreds of millions of individuals coming together each year. In 2014, a record-breaking 162 countries and 7000 towns and cities joined the world’s biggest celebration for our planet.
To celebrate Earth Hour 2015, our Council will be switching off the lights at Council HQ , Dumfries between Friday PM and Monday PM. We will also encourage our employees to sign up by promoting the event internally and through our Carbon Champions.
Last year in the UK over 9 million people took part including over 50 local authorities. They joined more than 4,600 schools and more than 1,000 businesses including many global brands to help plunge the UK into an hour of darkness. Over 200 of the country’s most iconic landmarks including Big Ben and Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, St Paul’s, Manchester Old Trafford, Wembley Stadium, Edinburgh Castle and many more went dark.
Cllr Colin Smyth, Chairman of the Economy, Environment and Infrastructure Committee at the Council said:
“I would encourage as many people as possible to take part in this event. By taking this one simple step, we will be joining with millions of people from around in a bid to influence climate change for the better.”
Alistair Speedie, Director Planning and Environment Services, said:
‘We are proud to take part in such an inspiring event as Earth hour. Everyone can make a difference to help protect our planet and we all have an important role to play.’
Shareen Brown, spokesperson for WWF-UK, said, “We’re thrilled that D&G Council will be taking part in Earth Hour this year and hope that they’ll inspire many others to get involved. Earth Hour is more than just an hour of darkness, it’s a community of people who are sharing their love for our planet and taking action to protect it every day.
Everyone can sign up for WWF’s Earth Hour 2015. For more information and to sign up please visit wwf.org.uk/earthhour
Editor’s notes
Join in the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #EarthHourUK @wwf_uk.
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour, organised by WWF, is a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet. Last year was the biggest yet, with hundreds of millions of people taking part across a record 162 countries and 7,000 towns and cities alongside world famous landmarks from the Sydney Opera House to Times Square in New York. In 2015 Earth Hour will be held on 28th March 2015 between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. wwf.org.uk/earthhour
About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive. Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk
