Switch off for Earth Hour, urges Mark

Mark took time out from his Parliamentary work this week to support the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour by turning off a giant light switch.

Earth Hour is a huge global switch off of lights on public buildings and in private houses for one hour on the 28th March to draw attention to the urgent need for action on climate change at the UN conference in Copenhagen this year.

Mark said:

“Climate change is one of the key challenges facing us today. In turning off the lights in our local community we will be linking up with a movement across the world to send a very clear message to the leaders who will meet at the Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen that we need decisive action now.

"Far from letting the present economic situation push climate change onto the back burner we should regard it as an opportunity to boost industries in the environmental sector and create a new green jobs programme.”

WWF’s Earth Hour aims to inspire a billion people in 1,000 cities to show global support for action on climate change. So far more than 1000 cities in 84 countries, including Edinburgh, have signed up.

The lights of civic buildings will be dimmed and switched off as well as the lights on iconic landmarks such as Nelson’s Column in London, the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Sydney Opera House, Paris’ Eiffel Tower, as well as Edinburgh's very own Forth Bridge.

Former Spice Girl Mel C, Cate Blanchett and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have all lent their voices to Earth Hour’s global call for action on climate change.

Restaurants and bars are also being asked to get involved by holding candlelit dinners on the night and members of the public can also hold their own events such as lights out parties.
Colin Butfield, head of campaigns at WWF UK, said:

"We are delighted that Mark is backing WWF’s Earth Hour. Negotiations for a global deal to tackle climate change are going on right now and it is essential that politicians demand the UK Government takes a strong leadership position.

“We want to create a groundswell of support and this is a chance for the people of Edinburgh North and Leith to be part of a global action on climate change. Global leaders meet at the UN conference in Copenhagen later this year to determine how the world will work together to tackle climate change in future. A billion people across the globe turning off their lights sends a loud and clear message to politicians that they must make it happen.”