ILOILO City – Every year, at 8:30 p.m. on the last Saturday of March, people in over 190 countries and territories unite, taking action on and raising awareness of the environmental issues facing Planet Earth. This is Earth Hour.
But Earth Hour is more than just an hour of switching off non-essential lights – it’s a movement for humanity’s future, for the benefit of people and planet.
And it’s not only a symbol of solidarity – it’s a catalyst for change, harnessing the power of the crowd.
Thus the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Region 6 is encouraging all sectors to switch off non-essential lights tonight to show solidarity and support to Earth Hour 2022 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
This symbolic campaign, which started in 2008, aims to raise awareness on climate change and saving energy.
“We’ve been through a lot in the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic and a series of environmental crises. For us to start a positive change, we need to switch off our inaction and speak up for nature,” said DENR-6 director Livino Duran.
By joining the Earth Hour, Duran said, “A simple act of switching off lights and other appliances becomes an essential part of the collective effort to save Mother Earth.”
Earth Hour was famously started as a lights out event in Sydney, Australia by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Since then, it has grown to engage millions of supporters around the world, inspiring individuals and organizations to take action for the environment, and driving major legislative changes.
As the movement grows, the one-hour lights out event continues to be the symbol of a broader commitment toward nature and Planet Earth.
For the past 10 years, according to WWF, people around the world have come together every Earth Hour to support efforts to tackle climate change. And, together, they have created a powerful movement that helped deliver strong global commitments to tackling this threat. Climate change remains a big challenge for all.
But another urgent threat now demands attention: the staggering loss of biodiversity and nature. Earth Hour today endeavors to spark global conversations on protecting nature not only because it is man’s strongest ally against to the climate crisis – but also because of its importance in ensuring our own health, happiness, prosperity and even survival./PN
