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Now is the hour to tackle global warming
Earth Hour logo © WWF
2006 was the year that climate change truly became a mainstream issue in Australia.
Drought and water shortages, record temperatures and raging bushfires dominated the news. Celebrities got behind it, politicians used it to gain public support, and climate skeptics faded from the debate as the science became impossible to refute.
But if 2006 was the year Australians finally accepted climate change as the biggest threat we've ever faced, 2007 will be the year we embrace the solutions we already have at our fingertips.
For one hour between 7.30 and 8.30pm on Saturday March 31, we're holding Australia's biggest climate change initiative - Earth Hour.
We're asking everyone in Sydney - Australia's largest city, known for its glitter and city skyline - to switch off all their lights for one hour.
Earth Hour will be fun, with candlelit dinners and barbeques the order of the day, but most of all it's about how we can work together to save power and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
With the support from The City of Sydney, the NSW Government and The Sydney Morning Herald every household and business in Sydney is being asked to take part.
It's only one hour but it will send a powerful message around the world that we're serious about reducing global warming and that we care enough to take action.
Earth Hour is all about the simple changes everyone can make. We've set a target to reduce carbon dioxide pollution in Sydney by 5% in 2007, which could be achieved if we switched appliances off standby and turned off unused lights - small actions that collectively have a huge impact on cutting electricity consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Sydney's Earth Hour will send a message to every city around the world that we have the power to take action against global warming and that by working together we really can make a huge difference.
Earth Hour follows a similar event during the 2005 fuel crisis in Thailand where 14 million Thai businesses and households simultaneously turned off just one light. In just five minutes this saved enough electricity to shut down one of the country's 14 power stations. That's a huge saving made just by flicking a switch!
The Sydney skyline © Jose MANUEL(flickr)
The Sydney skyline
© Jose MANUEL(flickr)
Making a Difference
Electricity consumption in the home is a big contributor to global warming. The demand for electricity in homes has increased by 53% since 1983. That's a huge increase and it's expected to almost double over the next 25 years if we don't take action.
Taking action isn't difficult and can be as simple as turning off your mobile phone charger when you're not using it, switching off your stereo at the wall, turning off unused lights or making sure your computer is completely shut down - screen and all.
We can make a difference in the office too. Australia's commercial sector is responsible for around 50 million tonnes of national greenhouse gas emission. A huge 13 million tonnes of this is from lighting.
By turning off lights when buildings are empty and using cost-effective technology, emissions can be reduced to 4 million tonnes - a huge 70% reduction.
Take Action
We're asking every person in Sydney to be a part of Earth Hour - the more people that take part, the stronger the message we send around the world. Go to the Earth Hour site and pledge your support. You'll receive a free information pack full of hints and tips on how to cut electricity bills in the home and office.
For everyone else around the country, even through Earth Hour hasn't reached your home town yet, it's still a great opportunity to look at ways to cut down on electricity. We're encouraging everybody to take action. Start by just turning off unused lights and collectively Australians will make a huge difference. Visit the Earth Hour site and learn how easy it is to help stop global warming.
If you're on Myspace, you can also link to Earth Hour as a friend to show your support and help spread the word.
Statistics on global warming
* The production and use of energy in Australia provides 69% - the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and is the greatest contributor to global warming. (CSIRO)
* By 2100, up to 15,000 Australians could die every year from heat-related illnesses and the dengue transmission zone could reach as far south as Brisne and Sydney if we continue to allow greenhouse gas emissions to increase. (Australian Medical Association).
* 2005 was Australia's hottest year on record, with an annual mean temperature 1.09°C above the average. (Australian Bureau of Meteorology).
* There has been a 30% reduction in snow cover over the last 45 years in the Snowy Mountains. Areas with at least 3 days snow cover annually are predicted to shrink by between 39% and 96% by 2070. (Murdoch University).
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Now is the hour to tackle global warming
Earth Hour logo © WWF
2006 was the year that climate change truly became a mainstream issue in Australia.
Drought and water shortages, record temperatures and raging bushfires dominated the news. Celebrities got behind it, politicians used it to gain public support, and climate skeptics faded from the debate as the science became impossible to refute.
But if 2006 was the year Australians finally accepted climate change as the biggest threat we've ever faced, 2007 will be the year we embrace the solutions we already have at our fingertips.
For one hour between 7.30 and 8.30pm on Saturday March 31, we're holding Australia's biggest climate change initiative - Earth Hour.
We're asking everyone in Sydney - Australia's largest city, known for its glitter and city skyline - to switch off all their lights for one hour.
Earth Hour will be fun, with candlelit dinners and barbeques the order of the day, but most of all it's about how we can work together to save power and reduce greenhouse gas pollution.
With the support from The City of Sydney, the NSW Government and The Sydney Morning Herald every household and business in Sydney is being asked to take part.
It's only one hour but it will send a powerful message around the world that we're serious about reducing global warming and that we care enough to take action.
Earth Hour is all about the simple changes everyone can make. We've set a target to reduce carbon dioxide pollution in Sydney by 5% in 2007, which could be achieved if we switched appliances off standby and turned off unused lights - small actions that collectively have a huge impact on cutting electricity consumption and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Sydney's Earth Hour will send a message to every city around the world that we have the power to take action against global warming and that by working together we really can make a huge difference.
Earth Hour follows a similar event during the 2005 fuel crisis in Thailand where 14 million Thai businesses and households simultaneously turned off just one light. In just five minutes this saved enough electricity to shut down one of the country's 14 power stations. That's a huge saving made just by flicking a switch!
The Sydney skyline © Jose MANUEL(flickr)
The Sydney skyline
© Jose MANUEL(flickr)
Making a Difference
Electricity consumption in the home is a big contributor to global warming. The demand for electricity in homes has increased by 53% since 1983. That's a huge increase and it's expected to almost double over the next 25 years if we don't take action.
Taking action isn't difficult and can be as simple as turning off your mobile phone charger when you're not using it, switching off your stereo at the wall, turning off unused lights or making sure your computer is completely shut down - screen and all.
We can make a difference in the office too. Australia's commercial sector is responsible for around 50 million tonnes of national greenhouse gas emission. A huge 13 million tonnes of this is from lighting.
By turning off lights when buildings are empty and using cost-effective technology, emissions can be reduced to 4 million tonnes - a huge 70% reduction.
Take Action
We're asking every person in Sydney to be a part of Earth Hour - the more people that take part, the stronger the message we send around the world. Go to the Earth Hour site and pledge your support. You'll receive a free information pack full of hints and tips on how to cut electricity bills in the home and office.
For everyone else around the country, even through Earth Hour hasn't reached your home town yet, it's still a great opportunity to look at ways to cut down on electricity. We're encouraging everybody to take action. Start by just turning off unused lights and collectively Australians will make a huge difference. Visit the Earth Hour site and learn how easy it is to help stop global warming.
If you're on Myspace, you can also link to Earth Hour as a friend to show your support and help spread the word.
Statistics on global warming
* The production and use of energy in Australia provides 69% - the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and is the greatest contributor to global warming. (CSIRO)
* By 2100, up to 15,000 Australians could die every year from heat-related illnesses and the dengue transmission zone could reach as far south as Brisne and Sydney if we continue to allow greenhouse gas emissions to increase. (Australian Medical Association).
* 2005 was Australia's hottest year on record, with an annual mean temperature 1.09°C above the average. (Australian Bureau of Meteorology).
* There has been a 30% reduction in snow cover over the last 45 years in the Snowy Mountains. Areas with at least 3 days snow cover annually are predicted to shrink by between 39% and 96% by 2070. (Murdoch University).
Share this page
Email icon Email to a friend
del.icio.us bookmarking service icon Post to del.icio.us
Digg news site icon Digg this
Newsvine site icon Seed Newsvine
What are these links?
Our Work
* Climate Change
* Oceans
* Water
* Weeds /&/amp; Pests
* Land /&/amp; Forests
* Species
* Industry
* Business
Act
* Donate
* Animal adoptions
* Take action
* Volunteer
* What's on
* Travel Tours
* NEW Online Shop
About us
* Contact us
* How we work
* Jobs
* FAQs
© WWF-Australia | Home | Site map | Privacy policy | Copyright | RSS Feed (what's this?) | WWF International | Contact us
source
Tags: Warming | tackle | global | Climate | biggest | Australia
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