On March 25, at 8:30PM, hundreds of millions of individuals, landmarks, businesses and schools across the globe will be plunging into darkness to show they want to help create a better future for our planet.
Spanning a record 152 countries in 2012 WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple idea that has become a global phenomenon, with hundreds of millions of people turning off their lights at the same time.
Over 7.6 million people got involved, joining 3,500 schools and more than 2,000 businesses and organisations. From many of the country’s most iconic landmarks like the London Eye and Edinburgh Castle to global businesses like HSBC and IKEA, hundreds of buildings switched off. Support extended well beyond the hour, with thousands making an ongoing commitment for a more sustainable future, and the momentum continues to grow.
To celebrate Earth Hour 2013, the Ambassador’s Theatre Group will be switching of all non-essential external lights at their venues across the UK and internal non-essential lights in their production and property offices and in their ticketing centre in Vauxhall at 8:30PM on March 23 for the hour, as well as encouraging their customers, employees, suppliers and business contacts to sign up by promoting the event through their company web site, employee intranet and internal and external e-mail communications.
Rosemary Squire, ATG’s Joint CEO, said “As a company we take our environmental responsibility very seriously indeed and already have a number of existing initiatives in place such as our Always Think Green campaign and Environmental Ambassadors in each venue.
"We’ve also made a commitment to reduction our carbon footprint, preventing pollution and minimising the impact of our operations on the environment.
"Everyone can make a difference to help protect our planet and we all have a key role to play”.
Rachel Bloodworth, spokesperson for WWF-UK, said “WWF’s Earth Hour 2013 is more than just an hour of darkness. It’s a chance for people to come together and send out a global message about protecting our planet.
"We all want a brighter future so as we switch off the lights this year the focus will be on the king of energy we use. Our planet needs us to move away from dirty fossil fuels to clean renewable energy, but we need to make that change right now.
"By taking one simple step to switch off you’ll become part of something incredible to make that change a reality."
Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million individuals and more than 2,000 businesses joined in. Last year hundreds of millions of people and landmarks from Big Ben and Buckingham Palace in London to the India Gate in New Delhi, and even as far as The Sydney Opera House, took part.
For more information, and to sign up: www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour