Tim Loughton MP, (East Worthing & Shoreham), has pledged to make the planet their priority ahead of WWF’s Earth Hour, the world’s largest event to protect the planet.
Taking place at 8:30-9:30pm on Saturday 24 March, the event is the world’s largest show of support for our planet. Lights around the world will go out for the hour, from the Taj Mahal to Buckingham Palace, as well as hundreds of millions of people around the world. In the UK alone, more than eight million people and 300 landmarks, including The Shard, Edinburgh Castle and Carnaby Street, are expected to participate.
WWF is calling on politicians to show their commitment to tackling key environmental issues such as restoring wildlife, acting on climate change and ending plastic pollution by joining in and making a pledge.
This year WWF’s Earth Hour is also calling on people to make a #PromiseForThePlanet – a simple lifestyle change that combined with thousands of other pledges can make a big difference. The promises include refusing plastic cutlery, switching to a green energy provider and reducing the amount of meat you eat by becoming a flexitarian.
Tim said:
“WWF’s Earth Hour provides an opportunity to raise awareness of some of the biggest environmental challenges facing our generation. I hope by making this promise today that I can encourage others to make a pledge too. Together we can make a difference.”
Tony Juniper, executive director of campaigns at WWF said:
“Much of the wildlife we love is being seriously threatened by the pressures we put on our planet, including the effects of climate change, pollution, deforestation and generally living beyond the Earth’s means.
“We’re delighted to see MPs from across the UK give their support to Earth Hour and make a pledge to protect the planet. We hope they will inspire many others in their constituencies and communities to make a promise of their own.”
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour, organised by WWF, is the global event inspiring millions across the world to take part and show they support action to protect our brilliant planet against the effects of climate change. Last year in the UK over 9 million people took part, along with over 6,000 schools, 1,700 youth groups, 300 landmarks and thousands of businesses and organisations. Iconic landmarks including Big Ben and Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, Blackpool Tower, The Kelpies, Brighton Pier, Cardiff Castle and many more joined the global switch off. Globally, from Samoa to Tahiti, a record 187 countries and territories took part in the world’s biggest Earth Hour yet. The support for Earth Hour and WWF’s work more broadly has contributed to finding solutions for climate change challenges across the world, including influencing climate policy, pushing for climate-friendly laws and supporting the world’s first Earth Hour forest in Uganda.
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About #PromiseForThePlanet
This Earth Hour, WWF is asking people to make a #PromiseForThePlanet, a pledge to take one step in their own lives to reduce their environmental footprint. The promises have been specifically chosen as examples of small behaviour changes people can make that collectively will have a big impact.
The promises are to:
- Refuse plastic cutlery
- Use a reusable coffee cup
- Turn washing to 30⁰
- Get an electric vehicle
- Reuse or compost leftover food
- Switch to green energy
- Become a flexitarian
Ariel will also be supporting Earth Hour this year, and will donate £1 for every promise made online using the #PromiseForThePlanet hashtag, or via the Earth Hour UK website.
About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries. Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, creating solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature thrive. Find out more about our work, past and present at wwf.org.uk.