"Earth Hour" is an initiative put forward by WWF (World Wildlife Fund) to respond to global climate change. It hopes that individuals, communities, businesses and governments will participate in the event on the last Saturday of March every year at 20:30- Turn off the lights for one hour at 21:30 to show their support for action on climate change. Climate change caused by excessive carbon dioxide emissions has now greatly threatened the survival of human beings on the earth. Only by changing global attitudes towards CO2 emissions can we mitigate the impact of this threat.
[Edit this paragraph] Goal and Vision
The goal of Earth Hour 2009 is to involve as many individuals, families and businesses as possible by turning off lights and other electrical appliances for one hour .
"Earth Hour" aims to make the global community aware of the threats posed by climate change, and to make them aware that small actions by individuals and companies will have a negative impact on the environment they live in. What a profound impact – small changes can have a huge impact.
At the same time, the "Earth Hour" event also provides a global environmental change for the leaders attending the United Nations climate change negotiations held in Copenhagen in December 2009, hoping that the heads of state will reach a new global Climate change agreement, replacing the Kyoto Protocol.
[Edit this paragraph] Development History
The "Earth Hour" event was first launched in Sydney, Australia at 8 pm on March 31, 2007. That night, there were about more than 2.2 million homes and businesses turned off lights and appliances for one hour. Afterwards, statistics showed that the electricity saved by turning off the lights for one hour was enough to run 200,000 televisions for one hour and run 50,000 cars for one hour. More participating citizens reported that they could see several times more stars that night than usual.
Subsequently, "Earth Hour" started from this limited scale and quickly swept the world at an astonishing speed. Just one year later, Earth Hour has been recognized as one of the world's largest actions to combat climate change, becoming a global and continuing event. On March 29, 2008, as many as 50 million people in 35 countries participated, and proved that individual actions can really change the world.
2009 "Earth Hour" China Launch Ceremony In 2009, "Earth Hour" came to China!! Baoding, known as the "China Electric Valley", was the first mainland city to officially announce its participation in the event . In addition, cities in mainland China that have been officially confirmed by WWF to participate in the event include Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian, Nanjing, Shunde, Hangzhou, Changsha, Changchun, Hong Kong, Macau and other cities. From 20:30 to 21:30 on the evening of March 28, 2009, the police in the above-mentioned cities took action together and turned off the lights for one hour. More than 3,000 cities in more than 80 countries and regions around the world have jointly created this beautiful "dark moment" and jointly contributed to the future of the earth.
To this end, the National Football Museum of England, the Burj Khalifa, the tallest hotel in the world, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Federal Building in Moscow and the Quirina, the official residence of the President of the Republic of Italy in Rome The lights in the palace are turned off for one hour. The iconic building at Hong Kong's Victoria Pier also turned off its lights for an hour to express determination to combat climate change.
In China, the number of cities and buildings participating in the event has also snowballed. As a "low carbon city pilot", Baoding Municipal Government Building and China's first solar photovoltaic building-Diangu Jinjiang International Hotel, Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor, Dalian's Xinghai Square, Nanjing Xuanwu Lake, Xinjiekou, Shanghai Oriental Pearl, etc. nearly 80 All high-rise buildings will turn off their lights at 8:30 pm on March 28; Beijing's new landmark buildings, the Bird's Nest, Water Cube and Linglong Tower, will also join the list. As the tallest building on Chang'an Avenue, Yintai Center, the landscape lights with the "lantern" logo will also be turned off. And become a symbol of these cities' participation in activities and support for reducing global warming. In addition, individuals, communities, and companies in many cities are also using their own power to actively organize and promote this event.
Na Hua, deputy country director of the United Nations Development Program, said: "The impact of climate change on human beings does not respect national boundaries. Whether we are rich or poor, each of us is equally vulnerable to climate change. In the fight against climate change, it is very important for governments, individuals and social institutions to work together. Each of us is a villager in the global village. As long as we turn off the lights for an hour, we can all contribute to reducing carbon emissions. Make a practical contribution and change the future of the planet."
Andy Reid, global executive director of Earth Hour, said: "Recent events show that the world can unite in times of crisis. , the global economic crisis is a good example. 2009 is a year that will determine the future of the earth. Major countries around the world will make plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on a large scale. This also provides opportunities for investment in new low-carbon economic models. Great opportunity. We must work together to make these changes happen. Our collective actions can change history and secure the future of our planet.
"Earth Hour China Promotion Ambassador Li Bingbing
Since the "Earth Hour" event was launched in China at the end of last year, it has also made positive progress. Hundreds of companies including Coca-Cola and Canon have joined the event. Beijing, IKEA, Wal-Mart, New World China Real Estate, etc. in Shanghai and other places also used different methods to carry out activities on the day. JCDecaux China also provided free advertising space on bus bodies and subway light boxes in Shanghai, Beijing and Tianjin to support "Earth One". Hours" event.
In addition, a series of event public service announcements participated by Li Bingbing, Earth Hour China promotion ambassador, were also unveiled. On the evening of March 28, Li Bingbing joined everyone in the "Lights Out One Hour" event. During the event, Li Bingbing said: "The earth is our common home, and everyone has the responsibility to save energy. I hope to use my power to call on more people to participate in this meaningful event and express our determination to combat climate change. "
[Edit this paragraph] Baoding joins
"China Electric Valley" joins "Earth Hour"——
February 23, 2009, distance The "Earth Hour" global lights-off event has been going on for more than a month. Baoding City, Hebei Province, known as the "Electricity Valley of China", officially announced that it would join this event and turn off the lights for one hour at 8:30 pm on March 28, 2009. The first city in mainland China to officially announce its participation in the event
WWF (China) Chief Representative Oda Meng said: "We are very happy to see Baoding join the 'Earth Hour' action to address the global issue of climate change. It requires concerted action and efforts from all. Baoding has made outstanding achievements in low-carbon development and is at the forefront of global cities. We also hope that more Chinese cities will join the lights-out event and join the global action for low-carbon development. ”
As one of the first pilot cities of WWF’s “China Low-Carbon City Development Project” (the other is Shanghai), Baoding has achieved certain results in the construction of low-carbon cities in the past year. Currently, Baoding The city is building a "China Electric Valley" based on its own industrial structure characteristics, vigorously developing a low-carbon economy focusing on new energy and new energy equipment manufacturing, advocating a low-carbon lifestyle, and building a low-carbon city and ecological civilization in Baoding. "Earth Hour" event launching ceremony
On the evening of March 28, 2009, the Baoding Municipal Government held a launching ceremony for the "Earth Hour" event at the Diangu Jinjiang International Hotel, China's first solar photovoltaic building in the High-tech Zone. Relevant government leaders and senior officials from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) attended the event and delivered speeches. At the same time, Olympic champion Pang Wei attended the ceremony as the spokesperson of Baoding's "Earth Hour".
Baoding City promised to fully participate in "Earth Hour". Activities, Baoding’s colleges and universities, primary and secondary schools, street communities, enterprises and government agencies participated in the lights-out activities in different forms, and also carried out a series of publicity and advocacy activities on energy conservation and emission reduction, using the activities to enhance Baoding’s national energy conservation awareness , *** jointly promote the construction of "low-carbon cities"
The Baoding Municipal Development and Reform Commission revealed that participating in the "Earth Hour" event is an important measure in the process of building a low-carbon city in Baoding. Through "turning off the lights for one hour", we will raise people's attention to climate change and make the concept of energy conservation, environmental protection, building a low-carbon city, and cherishing natural resources deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
The Baoding Development and Reform Commission also calls on Baoding citizens to choose to do so. For one hour, consciously turn off the lights (except for lights, street lights, traffic lights, etc. that do not affect public safety), and disconnect the power supply of all household appliances, such as mobile phone chargers, TVs, microwave ovens, and MP3 players. , computer monitors, printers, etc. On the evening of March 28, the lights in the Baoding City Government Building and surrounding landscapes were also turned off for one hour. The main officials of the city government and citizens participated in and witnessed this global action before and after the lights were turned off. International Hotel
The "Earth Hour" event has attracted the attention and response of college students from eight colleges and universities in Guangdong, including Hebei University, North China Electric Power University, and Hebei Agricultural University. The "College Student Environmental Protection Alliance" will be officially established on the 28th. In the afternoon of that day, they launched the alliance's founding ceremony at the Baoding Military Academy Square. In addition, they also carried out various forms of publicity activities, such as through leaflets, display boards, banners, and proposals. Many colleges and universities in the alliance warmed up for "Earth Hour" through radio stations, blackboards, etc. to the public. They turned off the lights in the dormitory for an hour on the evening of the 28th to contribute their part to "creating a green Baoding"
Baoding Mayor Yu Qun said: "As a Chinese city with a population of more than 11 million. , Baoding is working towards building a low-carbon city. Participating in Earth Hour, a global environmental event, turning off lights is just a small action, but it has a great symbolic significance. In the future, Baoding will join other cities in the world that are committed to low-carbon sustainable development, advocate the harmonious development of humans and nature, and take active actions. "
[Edit this paragraph] Started a craze
"Earth Hour" is a global initiative. This event began in Sydney, Australia in 2007. At that time, there were approximately more than 2 million people Homes and businesses voluntarily turn off their lights for one hour.
One year later, with the advocacy and promotion of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), "Earth Hour" has become a global and continuously developing event. In 2009, more than 3,000 cities from more than 80 countries and regions participated in the event.
The diesel generator located on the Chatham Islands on the east coast of New Zealand was shut down on time at 20:30 on March 28. It marked the beginning of the most spectacular collective event in the world to date, "2009 Earth Hour" start. Sydney before and after lights out
As the first of this global event, Dairne Poole, the head of WWF's "Earth Hour" in New Zealand, believes that her country's move affects 1 billion people around the world, and more than 1,000 cities, playing an integral role in events spanning 25 time zones.
This "lights-off relay" in thousands of cities around the world started in New Zealand, passed to Sydney, and then to Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Baoding, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Singapore, and Bangkok in Asia. , Jakarta, Mumbai and New Delhi.
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome and the Coca-Cola billboard in Times Square, the National Football Museum in England, the Burj Khalifa, the tallest hotel in the world, the CN Tower in Toronto, The Federal Building in Moscow and the Palazzo Quirinale, the official residence of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano in Rome, all turned off their lights within 60 minutes.
Starting from Asia, the "Earth Hour" event provides people in 25 time zones around the world with a platform to express environmental protection and respond to climate change. Whether on the streets of Cape Town or on the hillsides of Los Angeles, Earth Hour brings people from all corners of the world together to embark on a journey to combat global warming before and after turning off the lights at the National Stadium, the Bird's Nest.
Baoding, China, under the leadership of the mayor, witnessed this beautiful dark moment. Beijing's new landmark buildings Bird's Nest, Water Cube and Linglong Tower, Shanghai Oriental Pearl TV Tower and World Financial Center, Nanjing Xuanwu Lake, Jiangsu TV Tower and nearly 80 high-rise buildings in key areas also join hands with many famous buildings around the world to participate in the lights-out event Active.
Paris, the "City of Light", switched off the lights of several world-famous buildings during Earth Hour, including the Eiffel Tower. And in Greece, thousands of Athenians took part in Earth Hour together to show their support for slowing global warming.
Major cities in the Americas such as New York, Washington, Rio de Janeiro, Toronto, Buenos Aires, Chicago, Mexico City and Las Vegas will be released simultaneously under the long-lost starlight. their opinions on environmental protection.
WWF (World Wildlife Fund) Chief Representative Oda Meng said before the event: "The Earth Hour event is entering the sprint stage, and there are more and more participants in this global city lights-off relay. WWF hopes More Chinese cities are participating in this urban relay, and the Water Cube before and after the lights are turned off shows everyone's efforts and determination to deal with climate change."
In March, a letter was sent with the theme "March 2009." The email "Please turn off the lights for one hour from 8:30 to 9:30 pm on September 28" was circulated on the Internet and was forwarded and passed on by many netizens. On the Chinese Internet, which has 300 million Internet users, activities and discussions related to "Earth Hour" are going on in full swing.
It is reported that many large websites have opened special web pages to report on this issue in the form of special topics and special pages. Some websites also launched a personalized homepage on March 28. The page background will change from "light" to "dark" with the new "switch" button on the page, so that more netizens can Participate in the "Earth Hour" event.
In online discussion boards and forums, netizens expressed their opinions. Some netizens planned to take advantage of this rare hour to "bring a flashlight and go for a walk downstairs" or "walk to the balcony, look up at the stars, and count the stars one by one"; some netizens suggested being nostalgic and revisiting the Childhood games: Find a few close friends to play hawks and chickens, hide and seek, play house in the evening...experience your childhood again; some netizens proposed to have candlelight dinners with close people, and have sex with neighbors , colleagues held a "storytelling competition"; there were also netizens at the Oriental Pearl TV Tower before and after lights out who wanted to be alone, practice yoga, or think about things...
For a while, it was also popular on the Internet Starting from the "12 constellations' after-lights-out plan", some netizens have also created different versions of the lights-out plan, for example, the enjoyment version - light up aromatherapy, sheet masks, foot soaks; the warm version - light candles at home Chatting with family; Pet version - walking the dog in the dark; Humor version - like Ge You in "If You Are the One", repent in the dark and do things that are not environmentally friendly and have caused harm to the earth since kindergarten. Count all the behaviors.
Most netizens support "Earth Hour". Everyone regards this unplugged hour as an opportunity to enhance their relationship and a rare opportunity to return and get close to nature. The famous pianist Lang Lang suggested that everyone listen to music, "Listening to music in a dark environment can help you concentrate more and be completely immersed in the melody. At that moment, you will be deeply moved and your imagination will be triggered."
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In fact, "Earth Hour" has also aroused "*** noise" from all walks of life. HSBC Bank in 37 countries around the world turned off office lights on the evening of the 28th; Canon also shut down For landscape lighting, employees are called on to go home and turn off the lights, and event posters are placed in more than 700 dealerships; the landscape lighting of 240 Jinjiang Star stores nationwide and 44 CapitaLand-affiliated property buildings nationwide are turned off; Shanghai Yayue Hotel is in During the Earth Hour period, Earth Hour Night is held in its "green room", lighting candles and inviting guests to drink for free to celebrate this hour; New World Mall, IKEA, and Walmart in Beijing and Shanghai close the landscape Lighting, together with their customers, advocates green consumption...
Students from more than 100 colleges and universities across the country also demonstrated unplugged creativity from individuals, businesses, communities, and schools on that day. Concerts, stargazing at night, children's graffiti contests, candlelight messages and other activities have all brought the Earth Hour event to a climax.
[Edit this paragraph] Ways to spend it
The following are. WWF recommends ten ways to spend "Earth Hour" to help you reduce carbon emissions:
oParticipate in local "Earth Hour" events, or hold an "Earth Hour" party by yourself, Invite neighbors to participate;
oGather friends and family to enjoy a picnic at night in the park and enjoy the stars; During this hour, you can look up at the stars
oEnjoy a candlelight dinner at home;< /p>
o Organize a treasure hunt in the dark;
o Go out for a walk with the dog in the evening;
o Relax and take a bath by candlelight;
oEveryone sits around in the dark and tells stories together;
oOrganize a family night, play chess or games;
oHave a romantic night with your lover;< /p>
oUse a video camera or camera to record the story of this hour and share it with everyone
[Edit this paragraph] The significance of the event
In 2008, the whole city of Sydney. Energy consumption dropped by 8.4% during "Earth Hour", which is equivalent to extinguishing 1.6 million light bulbs. Christchurch, New Zealand's only city that officially participated in the lights-out event, released data showing that energy consumption increased after one hour of lights-out. A reduction of nearly 13%.
There is no doubt that the publicity effect of the lights-out show is far greater than the actual emission reduction effect. With the global "lights-out show" relay, more people have begun to realize energy conservation and reduction. Stephanie Weirick, a consultant for a steel company in Peoria, Illinois, used the lights out hour to host this event for her friends. A party with the theme of "B YOC", which means "Bring Your Candles". After this experience, 42-year-old Stephanie Weirick decided to hold a "Ball of the Earth" in her home every month. One-hour" activity, and even planned to hold a "green funeral" for myself.
In 2008, with the coming of "Earth Hour", citizens in many famous cities around the world began to enjoy candlelight dinners, from Fiji, New Zealand to Australia, to Asia, Europe and the Americas. Among them, the iconic cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand's third largest city, was the first to turn off the lights under the auspices of the mayor. Hundreds of local people watched a documentary focusing on environmental protection in Cathedral Square, and then flocked to local restaurants and bars. All candles were lit here and a candlelight dinner was held. Thousands of families also started romantic candlelight trysts at home.
At the time of lights out, although a hotel in Bangkok, Thailand temporarily stopped providing hot food and heated drinks, the restaurant was still full with people who went to attend the candlelight banquet. After the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago turned off the lights, it provided guests with glowing ice cubes in the lobby, which was a unique touch.
In the square in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, many people looked up at the sky and looked at the stars. A spokesman for the World Conservation Fund in Denmark said: "In cities, there are probably not many days when you can look at the stars."
In Phoenix Park in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, the Astronomical Society of Ireland set up a The huge telescope hopes that people can take advantage of the moment when the city lights go out to enjoy the "brilliant starry sky". Perhaps the best use of time is in some Chicago buildings, such as the John Hancock Center, where managers used lights-out time to permanently replace hundreds of incandescent lamps in the building with energy-saving light bulbs.
Regarding how to meaningfully spend an hour on the evening of March 28 this year, the famous pianist Lang Lang’s suggestions were humorous: “Appreciating music in a dark environment can help you to concentrate more and fully immerse yourself in the melody. . At that moment, you will be deeply moved and your imagination will be triggered.”
“Don’t underestimate lights out for one hour,” said Yi Hong, Vice President of Bigan Investment China, “Cities use a lot of electricity. It is one of the places where if the city can turn off unnecessary landscape lights for one hour, the energy that can be saved will be a huge number.”
“In just 60 minutes, we can actually make a big contribution to the earth. Because every kilowatt hour of electricity saved, 1 kilogram of carbon dioxide and 0.03 kilogram of sulfur dioxide emissions are reduced," said a WWF volunteer.