Every year, at 8:30 pm on the last Saturday of March, millions of people across the world switch off their lights to show support for our planet.
Started by WWF and partners as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour is now one of the world’s largest grassroots movements for the environment. Held every year on the last Saturday of March, Earth Hour engages millions of people in more than 180 countries and territories. But Earth Hour goes far beyond the symbolic action of switching off – it has become a catalyst for positive environmental impact, driving major legislative changes by harnessing the power of the people and collective action.
For more information about Earth Hour, how you can get involved and to get first view of the illustrative video, visit: https://www.earthhour.org/
This November sees COP26, the global climate change conference, taking place in Glasgow. In the lead up to the event, a range of partners across Dumfries & Galloway are coming together to highlight the proximity of our region, less than 2 hours travel from Glasgow, and the ambitious target to be a net zero carbon region by 2025.
Ahead of Earth Hour 2021, Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Climate Change Project Officer, Sarah Farrell, said:
“We are working really hard towards the target of making Dumfries & Galloway A Net Zero Carbon region by 2025. Events like Earth Hour are opportunities for us to highlight the special ambitions of this region, especially as we look towards the November COP26 conference.”
Dougie Campbell, Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Champion, added:
“As we’ve seen in the last few years people power really can create change for the good of everyone and we wouldn’t be where we are in the response to climate change without the voices of people like Greta Thunberg and, our school strikers right here in Dumfries and Galloway. A global response coupled with local action is critical if we’re to tackle climate change and taking the time to mark Earth Hour is a clear demand for action. As we look to COP26 in Glasgow I want our region to demonstrate what’s possible if we all play our part. Our generation needs to respond to the emergency we are facing to secure a future for the generations to come.”
Exploring opportunities for COP26 involvement, McNabb Laurie, Galloway Glens Team leader, added:
“We are the first generation to understand our impact on the planet, and the last generation to have a chance of addressing it.
In the lead up to the global conference in November, the Galloway Glens Scheme and partners from around the region will be exploring ways we can get involved and highlight the ambition and interest locally to make a difference.”
