Atlanta Joins 540 Cities in 75 Countries to Show Support for Largest Global Climate Event in History
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced today the City of Atlanta has agreed to “turn out” once again as an official Flagship City for Earth Hour 2009. On Saturday, March 28, 2009 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time, individuals, businesses and local government officials throughout Atlanta are encouraged to take part in this historic evening by turning off non-essential lights for one hour in support for a call to action on climate change in the U.S. and around the world.
Hundreds of major landmark buildings in Downtown, Midtown and Buckhead are anticipated to go dark in honor of the event---as well as many of the neighborhoods throughout the city. This is the second year Atlanta will be an official Flagship City, with event organizers hoping to build on last year’s successful participation, which saw more than 400 buildings, and an estimated 97% of the city’s skyline go dark for one hour. In addition, the event generated significant national media attention for the city, with features highlighting Atlanta’s involvement on ABC, CNN, NBC, CBS and National Public Radio.
Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said she was looking forward to being a part of Earth Hour 2009 after the success of last year’s event. “I call on residents and business leaders across Atlanta to support Earth Hour,” said Mayor Franklin. “Through our unified actions, our city has the opportunity to once again lead by example, and become a beacon of action and change for the rest of the world to see. We look forward to making Earth Hour 2009 an even greater success.”
From Amman to Warsaw, Atlanta will join the skylines of more than 500 cities in 75 countries in what will be the largest climate awareness event in history. Around the world, the list of participating cities includes Auckland, Cape Town, Copenhagen, Dubai, Helsinki, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Lisbon, London, Manila, Mexico City, Moscow, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Singapore, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Toronto, with more expected to sign on in the weeks ahead. In the U.S., Atlanta will be joined by other Flagship and Key Supporting cities including: Chicago, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Nashville, New York, and San Francisco.
“Having grown up in Atlanta, I know the people there care deeply about the environment and the issue of climate change,” said WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts. “As a returning Flagship City for Earth Hour 2009, Atlanta has the opportunity to help send a very powerful message: that the time for action on climate change is now. Earth Hour not only focuses global attention on the need to find solutions to climate change, but demonstrates the power that each of us has to make a difference in the future of our planet.”
Leading up to the event on Saturday, March 28, WWF is working with a large cross-section of public and private entities to coordinate their participation in the initiative. To help it plan and promote the event in Atlanta, WWF has partnered with Creaxion®, one of the Atlanta’s leading marketing firms. Mayor Franklin, Dr. Darron Collins, WWF's Regional Managing Director and Creaxion’s President and CEO, Mark Pettit, have been named as co-chairs of Earth Hour Atlanta 2009.
Cox Enterprises, through its “Cox Conserves” environmental program (www.coxconserves.com) has signed on as Presenting Sponsor of Earth Hour Atlanta. Cox will provide extensive promotional support to Earth Hour locally and in multiple markets through its network of print, radio, broadcast television, cable and online properties and its 77,000 employees.
While there are no specific energy reduction targets for this year’s initiative in participating U.S. cities, Georgia Power will measure the drop in electricity use during the event, and will provide additional logistical support and assistance. Following last year’s event, Georgia Power reported that its customers in Atlanta decreased their electricity usage by nearly 4 percent during Earth Hour, despite an evening rainstorm. The average reduction during the hour was 7.05 megawatt-hours, or enough electricity to serve 1,750 homes.
WWF stresses the importance of celebrating Earth Hour in a safe and secure environment—and is asking people to turn off only non-essential lights for one hour. All lights impacting public safety will remain on, including street lights, and lights in public spaces, hospitals or emergency services remaining on for the duration of the event. More information about Earth Hour and ways to get involved can be found at www.EarthHourUS.org
National partners for WWF’s Earth Hour 2009 are Esurance, Cox Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company, Wells Fargo and Hewlett-Packard.
Note to Editors:
B Roll footage and photographs of lights going out at various global landmarks this past March are available upon request.
Previews can be found here:
Earth Hour 2009 Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjWD8pbK5t8
Photos: www.flickr.com/earthhourus
Earth Hour 2009 Media Center can be found at www.EarthHourUs.org/mediacenter.php.
About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global World Wildlife Fund climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 28, 2009 at 8:30 PM to show their support for action on climate change. The event began in Sydney in 2007, when 2 million people switched off their lights. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. National partners for WWF’s Earth Hour are Esurance, Cox Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company, Hewlett Packard.
About World Wildlife Fund
WWF is one of the world’s largest conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, stopping the degradation of the environment and combating climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.
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For more information about this and services of the City of Atlanta visit our website at www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26