Note to Correspondents

United Nations Headquarters to Dim Lights on 27 March, for ‘Earth Hour’

in Support of Action on Climate Change

 

The United Nations will observe “Earth Hour” on Saturday, 27 March, at its Headquarters in New York and other facilities around the world, to show its continuing commitment to action on climate change.

Earth Hour, promoted by WWF, the global conservation body, asks people and organizations to turn off their lights for one hour on Saturday night between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. local time, in whatever time zone they may be located.

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called Earth Hour both a warning and a beacon of hope.  “By switching off non-essential lights for an hour, people will join a symbolic display that can inspire the change we so urgently need,” he said.  “As we watch the lights go out from continent to continent, let us reflect on the fragility and importance of our natural heritage and pledge to protect it for a sustainable future for all.”

He added: “The message of Earth Hour is simple; climate change is a concern for each of us.  Solutions are within our grasp and are ready to be implemented by individuals, communities, businesses and Governments around the globe.”

Earth Hour organizers say hundreds of millions of people in 4,088 cities, towns and municipalities across 88 countries participated in 2009.  They hope the event will reach more than a billion people around the globe, in more than 6,000 cities, this year.

The Earth Hour event takes place one week after the vernal equinox when night and day are the same duration in both hemispheres, which ensures that it will be night-time for all people, wherever they are, at 8:30 in the evening.

The United Nations will be joining many other landmarks around the world in turning off the lights at its New York Headquarters and other locations.

For further information, please contact, in the Department of Public Information, Dan Shepard, tel: +1 212 963 9495, e-mail: shepard@un.org; or Martina Donlon, tel: +1 212 963 6816, e-mail: donlon@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record