Earth Hour Lanterns Lit To Announce A Record 100 Countries And Regions Confirmed

Illuminated lanterns will today unite citizens of every continent in the countdown to the globe’s biggest action on climate change

Chengdu and Beijing, China 10 March, 2010: Earth Hour lanterns were today lit in Chengdu to recognize a record 100 countries and regions confirmed in the countdown to the world’s most powerful display of global action on climate change which will take place at 8.30pm on Saturday 27 March during Earth Hour 2010.

Over the next 17 days, in the countdown to Earth Hour, 100% biodegradable Earth Hour lanterns will be illuminated representing the 24 standard time zones of the world where at 8.30pm on 27 March, lights will be switched off in a historic display of global action on climate change. With a record number of participating countries and regions – currently sitting at 100 and growing by the day – Earth Hour 2010 is anticipated to be the greatest civil action the world has ever witnessed, highlighting the resolve of the global community to take positive action on global warming.

At the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu, China, Earth Hour’s special panda ambassador, Mei Lan, greeted the public for the first time since arriving from her former home in the US, to watch Earth Hour lanterns igniting along with the hopes of people from 27 Asian nations participating in Earth Hour 2010.

China’s human Earth Hour ambassadors, actress Li Bingbing, rock icon Cui Jian, and pop star Li Yuchun signed the 24 lanterns, while Mei Lan volunteered an impression of her paw to mark the occasion.

Meanwhile, at a press conference for her upcoming WhyMe concert in Beijing, Li Yuchun called for her fans to participate in Earth Hour 2010 by switching off all unnecessary lights and electronic equipment from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on March 27th. She also advocated the importance of living a low carbon lifestyle.

Lanterns have been an ongoing theme throughout the four-year history of Earth Hour, representing hope and action against climate change. As today’s Earth Hour lantern-lighting relay circumnavigates the globe, kids and grownups around the world will be able to participate by creating their own virtual Earth Hour lantern on www.earthhour.org/kids/MakeALantern.aspx.

The Earth Hour lanterns will be lit at the following six locations on seven continents today at 8.30pm local time, corresponding with the following standard time zones:

Antarctica: A scientific research unit will be the appropriate starting point to today’s enlightening preview to the world’s greatest display of action on climate change, where Earth Hour lanterns will be lit as a beacon of hope for one of the planet’s most vulnerable regions to global warming.

Australia: The banks of Sydney’s world-famous harbour will host a leg of the lantern-lighting relay, against the backdrop of the city-skyline where Earth Hour began as a one-city initiative in 2007.

Africa: In Cape Town, South Africa, Earth Hour lanterns will be lit before the mighty Table Mountain, which will be switching off for Earth Hour 2010, representing people of 7 nations to date who have pledged to switch off their lights on 27 March across the continent known as the cradle of civilisation.

Europe: In Paris, France, the ‘City of Lights’ will illuminate Earth Hour lanterns symbolising the resolve of Europeans to be part of a global climate solution, as indicated by the confirmed participation in Earth Hour 2010 by citizens of all but two of the 22 nations of the European Union.

North America: In Toronto, Canada, where the iconic CN Tower waits in preparation to plunge into darkness for Earth Hour, lanterns will be lit on behalf of citizens of the US and Caribbean nations that have made the pledge to switch off their lights for Earth Hour 2010.

South America: The Peruvian capital of Lima will round out Earth Hour’s global lantern-lighting parade, representing the people of 13 South and Central American nations committed to switching off their lights for Earth Hour at 8.30pm on Saturday 27 March.

“Earth Hour demonstrates the determination of the world’s citizens to work for a better, healthier world,” said Earth Hour Co-Founder and Executive Director, Andy Ridley.

“Earth Hour brings together cities, communities, businesses and individuals on the journey to positive action on climate change. By lighting these lanterns with the people of (insert your city), we hope to encourage those who have not yet made their Earth Hour pledge to sign up and join the world in this historic moment of global unity,” he said.

Join the planet for Earth Hour 2010. Visit www.earthhour.org and show the world what can be done.

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For more information please contact:

Chris Chaplin, Communcations Officer, WWF-China
+86 10 6511 6237, cchaplin@wwfchina.org

Kirsten Hodgon, Earth Hour Global
T: +61 2 9903 3111 / M: +61 (0) 424 507 095 khodgon@wwf.org.au

Notes to editors:
• Images of the Earth Hour lanterns can be found at http://earthhour.panda.org
• 24 100% biodegradable Earth Hour lanterns will be lit at 8.30pm (local time) today in every continent except for Antarctica, where, four symbolic lanterns will be lit due to limited luggage entitlements for the touring party to that continent.
• Full list of countries attached.

About Earth Hour
Earth Hour is a global WWF climate change initiative. Individuals, businesses, governments and communities are invited to turn out their lights for one hour on Saturday March 27, 2010 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. In 2009, Earth Hour reached 1 billion people in 4,088 cities and towns in 88 countries making it the largest public demonstration for action on climate change ever.

About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world’s biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.