25 September, 2008

North Shore City signs on as partner city for Earth Hour 2009

The global climate change initiative Earth Hour, taking place on March 29, 2009, now has a new partner city, North Shore City. The initiative encourages residents and organisations worldwide to switch off their lights and other electrical appliances for one hour at a designated time.

As part of this initiative, the council will encourage residents and businesses in North Shore to follow its lead and ‘switch off’ for one hour beginning at 8:30pm on March 29.

In 2008, Earth Hour was the biggest voluntary ‘power down’ in history, with 50 million people around the world turning off their lights and appliances for one hour. With growing concern about the effects of global warming, Earth Hour demonstrates that, collectively, people can make a difference.

“As an Earth Hour partner city, the council have the opportunity to show the world our commitment to sustainability and energy conservation,” says Michael Field, Council’s Sustainability Manager. “With the full support of Mayor Andrew Williams and Chief Executive John Brockies, we continue to make significant strides in this domain.”

Earth Hour aims to inspire people and businesses to amend their energy usage habits. It highlights practical solutions to climate change, encouraging involvement across all levels of society—from individuals to businesses to government—to address this critical global issue.

The event will demonstrate in participating cities the connection between energy usage and climate change, showing that the broader community can indeed do something about this major threat to the planet.

NSCC will be working alongside Auckland City Council, Waitakere City Council, Manukau City Council and Auckland Regional Council in a joint effort that will be overseen by the World Wildlife Fund, the founders of Earth Hour.

“Earth Hour proves that small actions by people and organisations performed on a global scale can make a huge difference to our planet,” says Field. “We are pleased and honoured to be working with other area councils and the WWF to tackle this worldwide challenge.”

Hundreds of thousands of people and thousands of businesses and organisations internationally have already signed up for the Earth Hour 2009 initiative.

To find out more or to enroll yourself or your organisation for Earth Hour, visit their website at http://www.earthhour.org.

ENDS

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