Bicycles, electric vehicles, renewable energy technologies plus other climate change solutions shall highlight this year’s main Earth Hour switch-off in the Philippines, organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The event shall be held at the Quezon City Memorial Circle on Saturday, 19 March 2016. Thousands are expected to come and celebrate climate solutions with WWF-Philippines Ambassadors Marc Nelson, Rovilson Fernandez, Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, plus other personalities and acoustic performers from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM.
An LED map of the Philippines shall be lit by volunteers pedaling on 10 stationary bamboo bikes attached to energy generators, which convert ‘pedal power’ to electricity. Over 500 bikers will converge at the venue before the switch-off, which happens from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM. “All participants will get a chance to pedal for the planet and show the world that human power can light up the Philippines and the world,” says Earth Hour Philippines Director Atty. Gia Ibay.
Electric vehicles such as e-jeeps and e-trikes shall also be on display. “Our aim is to showcase low-carbon alternatives which all Pinoys can embrace,” adds Ibay. “These range from alternative modes of transport to energy-efficient technologies like portable and household solar kits. The event will also be partially powered by renewable energy particularly solar, wind and biogas.”
Earth Hour shall be observed across 24 time-zones in 178 countries and territories on 19 March. First observed in 2007, the movement uses the simple action of switching-off lights for 60 minutes to deliver a powerful message on the need for decisive climate change solutions. Since 2007, the movement has grown from a symbolic switch-off event in Sydney, Australia to the world’s largest open-sourced environmental campaign mobilizing billions of people in over 7000 hubs globally.
Many more Earth Hour events are being staged across the Philippines. “We are elated at the massive outpouring of support. Government agencies, media allies, corporations, schools, civil society groups and individuals have all pledged to shine a light on climate action through Earth Hour,” says WWF-Philippines CEO Joel Palma. “We encourage participants to upload their Earth Hour videos and photos on social media using the hashtag #EARTHHOURPHILIPPINES. The most meaningful and unique celebrations shall be featured on our social media platforms.”
The Philippines has been championing Earth Hour since 2008 and has topped participation records from 2009 to 2013 earning it the title of Earth Hour Hero Country. A growing list of allies have pledged to support this year’s efforts, led by government partners such as the Quezon City Government, Department of Energy (DOE), Climate Change Commission (CCC), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Department of Education (DEPEd), Department of Justice (DOJ), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of National Defense (DND), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA), League of Cities of the Philippines (LCP), League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), National Youth Commission (NYC), National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP), Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).
Corporate champions include Philips, Banana Peel, Arthaland, Healthy Options, H&M Philippines, White Gold Club and Pru Life UK. Event partners include Anakata, Bamb Ecological Technology, BEMAC, BNB Racks, Deanworks, Global Electric Transport, Enfinity Imperial Solar Homes, Motolite, Pivot Edutainment, Renewable Energy Association of the Philippines, Solar Solutions, Smart Communications, Bayani Brew, Coca-Cola, Gelatissimo, Jamba Juice, Krispy Kreme, Max’s, Max’s Group, McDonald’s, Pancake House and Yellow Cab.
Earth Hour is a media-driven campaign and is being promoted through strong alliances with ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN RNG, ABS-CBN Sports and Action, A & E Network, BusinessMirror, BusinessWorld, Click the City, CNN Philippines, Eagle Broadcasting Corporation, Eagle News, DZUP, FleishmanHillard, FocusMedia, Global News Network, Leo Burnett, Net-25, Nyxis, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Philippine Star, Orange Magazine TV, QCreativs, Radyo Pilipinas, Radyo Agila, Radyo Veritas, Rappler, Tech2Go, TV5 and Yuneoh. WWF thanks all its champions and calls on the rest of the nation to adopt low-carbon solutions.
“Even more important than observing the switch-off is each group’s commitment to Go Beyond the Hour when the lights are switched back on,” concludes Ibay. “Earth Hour is symbolic. We’re not going to stop climate change just by switching-off our lights for 60 minutes but if we collectively reduce our energy use by shifting to renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies, we will definitely change climate change and secure the low-carbon future we need.”
Earth Hour 2016 will be celebrated on Saturday, 19 March 2016 between 8:30 and 9:30 PM in the Philippines and in nearly 180 countries globally.
Log on to www.earthhour.org and wwf.org.ph for more stories on Earth Hour and climate change solutions.