More than 400 Spanish cities and towns, more than 190 countries around the world, companies, organisations are joining WWF Earth Hour campaign this Saturday.
Earth Hour is the largest international environmental campaign. It calls on households and businesses to switch off lights and other electrical equipment in their homes for one hour. Furthermore, the event has taken place every year since 2007 at the end of March. This is the weekend when daylight saving time starts.
This year, from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm, the lights of 17,000 iconic monuments around the world will be turned off for the planet. These include the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Brandenburg Gate in Germany, the Sydney Opera House, Christ the Redeemer in Brazil and the Colosseum in Rome.
Monuments in Spain
In Spain this year the following monuments, among others, will be darkened;
- Basilica del Pilar in Zaragoza
- Monasterio de las Huelgas in Burgos
- Plaza del Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela
- Puerta de Alcalá in Madrid
- Cathedral of Oviedo
- Castle of Bellver in Palma de Mallorca
- Casas Colgadas in Cuenca
- Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
- Monumental City of Cáceres
- Cathedral of Astorga, Miguelete
- Cathedral of Valencia
National heritage
National heritage also supports the campaign and the lights will be extinguished in the;
- Royal Palace in Madrid
- Pantheon of Illustrious Men
- Royal Palace of Aranjuez
- Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial
- Royal Palace of La Granja in Segovia
- Monastery of La Huelgas in Burgos
- Royal Palace of La Almudaina in Palma de Mallorca.
Companies
More than 200 companies are participating and have expressed their commitment to the environment in writing. Inditex is once again a partner in the campaign. And, like other companies, they will also turn off the lights in shops or buildings at this time. Furthermore, they are making their employees and customers aware of the campaign.
Events
After two years without events due to the pandemic, this year activities will be held again in many places around the world. Also in Spain, where the #KmPorElPlaneta time trial in Madrid will end with a symbolic act to cover the last kilometres before ‘Earth Hour’, led by Olympic athletes Marta Pérez and Fernando Carro.
With just over two days to go, the virtual time trial already has over 200,000 kilometres on its counter. This is the equivalent of going around the world 5 times. However, the race counter is still open to keep adding kilometres and manage to complete the sixth lap of the earth. At the moment the counter stands at 215,979 kilometres.
WWF invites all citizens to take to the streets this Saturday at 8.30 pm and join in, first by registering on the Earth Hour website, where they can choose which distance to walk, run, bike, swim, or skate.
Children’s ambassador
This year, Pocoyo, the character from Zinkia on Spanish children’s channel Clan TVE, will once again join in as the action’s ambassador for children. According to WWF Secretary-General Juan Carlos del Olmo, ‘Earth Hour 2022’ is a call for the world to unite in a moment of solidarity for people and the planet.
He said that beyond the many challenges, especially in these ‘unprecedented’ times, 2022 remains crucial for the planet. ‘This year, the world will come together to reach an agreement for nature similar to the Paris Agreement on climate change. This is a unique opportunity for leaders to agree on a plan to reverse the loss of nature by 2030 and build a positive future for nature,’ he said.
Solidarity with Ukraine victims
For Del Olmo, building a future in harmony with nature requires peace between people, which is why this year’s Earth Hour offers a moment of solidarity with all those suffering from war and conflict around the world. It is an opportunity for our global community to express what is important. And moreover, to take positive action and demand a world where people and the planet can thrive together,’ he adds. WWF expresses its solidarity with the victims of the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in Ukraine and says its heart and mind are with them all.
Also read: 1.5ºC global warming
