Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood is encouraging as many people as possible in Wales to sign up to the big Earth Hour switch off this weekend to highlight the looming dangers of climate change.
The AM for South Wales Central, who is also the party’s spokeswoman for Sustainability, will be joining millions of others across the globe in switching their lights off for one hour this Saturday at 8.30pm in a graphic demonstration to decision makers that urgent action is needed to cut carbon emissions and reduce global warning.
Constituencies can monitor their individual progress on a new interactive Earth Hour map http://earthhourmap.wwf.org.uk/. As more people sign up to switch their lights off, they can see how their locality is performing and encourage their friends and family to join them in helping ensure their county stands out.
Ms Wood said: “Climate change is arguably the single biggest threat to our children and grandchildren and bold moves are needed if we are going to arrest the rate at which global warming occurs. The dangers are real and proven so I would urge everyone to sign up in support of action against climate change.
“Switching off your lights for an hour on Saturday night is a small sacrifice to make for such a big issue. I hope this event will go from strength-to-strength so that the powers-that-be are sent a clear an unequivocal message that firm action on climate change is needed and needed now.”
Last year in the UK over 13 million people took part and more than 130 landmarks including Big Ben, the Sydney Opera House and the Empire State Building in New York. An incredible 4,000 cities across 128 countries joined the global switch off, a compelling reminder that we only have one planet and we must all take urgent action to protect it for our future.
Last year in Wales nearly 70 per cent of all local authorities signed up together with over a 100 schools, and Welsh iconic landmarks such as Wales’ Millennium Stadium, Caernarfon Castle and the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth switched off.
By signing up to Earth Hour people showing the government they want action to ‘clean up’ the county’s energy supply and reduce the impact it has on our planet. People can join in by registering online at www.wwf.org.uk/earthhourwales2011 .
“WWF’s Earth Hour is an inspiring opportunity for people to do something positive to help tackle climate change,” said Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru. “Last year’s Earth Hour was the biggest ever climate change event. By making it even bigger this year, we can all send a strong message to world leaders that people around the globe are united in calling for decisive action on climate change.”
WWF’s Earth Hour: Saturday 26 March 2010, 8.30pm. www.wwf.org.uk/earthhourwales2011
