MILLIONS UNITE TO LIGHT THE WAY TOWARD CLIMATE ACTION
29 March 2015, SINGAPORE- From Antarctica to the International Space Station, WWF's
Earth Hour brought the world closer together on Saturday by mobilising millions to highlight
the need for climate action. In a year of record participation, individuals, businesses, city
skylines and landmarks in 172 countries and territories switched off their lights to participate
in the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment.
From the first lights out event in Samoa, across seven continents to Tahiti, the past 24 hours
inspired unprecedented unity from people around the world committed to use their power to
change climate change.
“From the Earth's extremes to outer space, people came together to send a clear message
that action on climate is on top of their agenda. Earth Hour confirms our belief that in order to
change climate change we need to act together. WWF will continue to do its share to shape
strong, global climate solutions,” said Sudhanshu Sarronwala, Chair, Board of Directors,
Earth Hour Global.
Over 1,400 landmarks switched off the lights this Saturday including the Empire State
Building and the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Burj
Khalifa in Dubai, the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Hong Kong’s iconic skyline. Close to 40
UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the Acropolis in Athens, the walled city of Baku, the
Cologne Cathedral and the Galapagos Islands also participated.
While the world’s most iconic landmarks went dark this weekend, Earth Hour powered
collective action to address local climate issues well beyond the hour.
As Moscow's Kremlin switched off the lights, citizens switched on their power for change by
collecting close to 70,000 signatures to petition a moratorium on the exploration of Arctic oil.
In Malaysia, citizens attended the first-ever Earth Hour 2015 carnival in Petaling Jaya and
answered the call to come out in large numbers to show their support for a city council
declaration to reduce carbon emissions by 25 per cent within the next five years.
Across the globe in Colombia, physical resilience met climate resilience as 1,100 people
enrolled in a ‘110KW’ marathon along a climate change trail highlighting the need for
communities to strengthen their defenses against the worst impacts of climate change.
“Science shows us that climate change is a global concern, Earth Hour shows us that people
have the power to take on the climate challenge,” added Sarronwala. “Earth Hour turns out
the lights, but the future of our planet is brightened by the countless individual actions of
supporters around the world.”
In a video statement recorded for Earth Hour, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon echoed
WWF’s belief that people will play a key role in solving climate change and that Earth Hour is
a movement of millions offering real solutions.
More than just turning out the lights, the ninth edition of Earth Hour was about people around
the world sending a clear message that climate action is a political priority. Supporters in
Scotland, Switzerland and Colombia signed digital petitions for stronger climate action.
Australia, the UK and Finland hosted sustainable candle-lit dinners to highlight the impact of
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climate change on agriculture, while participants in India, the Philippines and China
promoted access to renewable energy.
“As we come out of the hottest year on record and hear reports of record low Arctic sea ice,
this year’s Earth Hour reminds us yet again why we all need to be part of the climate
conversation. It is our climate and it is our collective impact—as individuals, businesses,
governments—that will help make climate change history,” said Sarronwala.
Since its origin as a symbolic lights off event in Sydney in 2007, WWF’s Earth Hour has
grown into the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment igniting public
awareness and action on climate in more than 7,000 cities across the world.
Earth Hour 2015 by the numbers:
- record participation by 172 countries and territories;
- lights off at over 1,400 landmarks and close to 40 UNESCO World Heritage sites;
- over 80 climate outcomes driven by WWF teams harnessing the power of Earth
Hour;
- social media reach of approximately 384 million (Facebook & Twitter) between 23
and 29 March, including social posts and tweets on Earth Hour from celebrities like
footballer Lionel Messi, actress Alicia Silverstone and model Gisele Bundchen;
- 300-plus ambassadors and influencers around the world including WWF Global
Ambassadors Jared Leto and Andy Murray supported the campaign either on ground
or digitally;support from thousands of corporates around the world including Rovio
Entertainment, Timex and Zinkia Entertainment, creators of Pocoyo, the Earth Hour
Kids Ambassador since 2010.
While the lights may go out on one night, the efforts of Earth Hour and its supporters to
change climate change last throughout the year. As we move along the road to Paris and
beyond, WWF teams will continue to work with citizens, policymakers and businesses to
drive progress on key climate issues like access to renewable energy, climate education and
fighting deforestation. Earth Hour will celebrate our collective impact for the planet with
supporters during its ten-year anniversary on 19 March 2016.
Link to videos and photos on Earth Hour events from around the world:
http://www.earthhour.org/media-centre
Link to Earth Hour 2015 highlight statistics and videos:
http://www.earthhour.org/earth-hour-2015-highlights
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For media inquires or requests for press interviews, please contact:
Rucha Naware, Communications Manager - Earth Hour Global; [email protected] +65
8148 2477
About Earth Hour:
Earth Hour is WWF's global environmental movement. As one of the first open-sourced
climate change campaigns, Earth Hour has grown from a symbolic event in one city to the
world's largest grassroots movement for the environment. In 2014, Earth Hour engaged
individuals, businesses and organizations in over 7,000 cities and 162 countries and
territories during the hour and beyond. In 2015, Earth Hour aims to harness the power of its
millions of supporters worldwide to change climate change.
About WWF:
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WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation
organizations, with over five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100
countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and
to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s
biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and
promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.
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EARTHHOUR 2015
HIGHLIGHTS
41,900+
172
1,400+
digital events created
across 7 continents
Countries & Territories
of the world’s most iconic
landmarks switched off
66
47
Countries that have gone
beyond the lights out event
Finalist Cities in the Earth
Hour City Challenge
5.9 million+
Facebook reach in the
week leading up to Earth
Hour (23-29 March 2015)
36 million+
No. of video views
(Earth Hour + Partners)
*Editor's Note: These figures are based on initial reports and estimates as of Sunday 29th
March 5:30 AM GMT. Figures will be updated to reflect the final numbers following detailed
analysis in coming days.
378 million+
Twitter reach in the week
leading up to Earth Hour
(23-29 March 2015)