The Philippine Online Chronicles

At 8:30 pm tonight (Philippine time), lights will switch off around the globe for Earth Hour 2011 and people will commit to actions that go beyond the hour.

This year's global event marks a key difference from past switch-offs as it focus on what transpire beyond the hour itself. With climate change issues becoming more critical, WWF-Philippines is going beyond Earth Hour by launching a year-long climate change information and education campaign for Filipinos to live by Earth Hour’s carbon-friendly principles not for 60-minutes – but for the rest of their lives.

Earth Hour through the years

2007 – In Sydney Australia, 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses turned their lights off for one hour to take a stand against climate change.

2008 – Thirty countries and territories participated. More than 50 million people joined the cause. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, CN Tower in Toronto, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

2009 - Hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries and territories officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet. Earth Hour 2009 became the world’s largest global climate change initiative.

2010 - The biggest Earth Hour to date. A record of 128 countries and territories joined the global display of climate action. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Asia Pacific to Europe and Africa to the Americas switched off.

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Leading the Earth Hour

The Philippines - now on its fourth year of joining the rest of the world for Earth Hour - topped its 2009 record with 15 million Filipinos turning off their lights in 2010 in support for Earth Hour, according to Philstar.

Local government units and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) urged Filipinos to participate in the Earth Hour. Last year, over 1,000 cities and towns took part in the Earth Hour 2010.

This year, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, with 1,512 member municipalities and the League of Cities of the Philippines, a city organization with 122 member cities, are also taking part in the activity.

Local organizers of Earth Hour Pilipinas said Earth Hour is a simple act that emphasizes both the ease and importance of adopting energy-efficient practices and lifestyles.

“Given ever-increasing energy demands, we must be mindful of the need to control human-induced global warming by adopting smarter and more responsible energy practices,” said Earth Hour National Director Atty. Gia Ibay, also from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-Philippines) Climate Unit.

But more than just switching off our lights, Earth Hour National Director Atty. Gia Ibay shares, "We must emphasize that Earth Hour is but 60 minutes long. If we want lasting and effective results, then we must inculcate the true spirit of the event into our lives."

The Philippines topped global Earth Hour participation levels for both 2009 and 2010.

Ten million Filipinos in 647 towns, cities and municipalities switched off in 2009, while 15 million Filipinos in 1076 towns and cities joined the 2010 switch-off. Over a billion people from 128 countries participated in Earth Hour 2010 – marking it as the largest environmental event in known human history.

Earth Hour is organized by Worldwide Fund for Nature or WWF with almost 5 million supporters and a global network in over 100 countries and territories. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment.