Earth Hour: UN to go dark globally, raising awareness on energy consumption and climate change impacts | Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD)

It was be “lights out” for the United Nations on the 29^th of March as the Organization shut off the lights at its iconic Headquarters complex in New York and other facilities around the world in observance of “Earth Hour,” an annual global event raising awareness about the need to take action on climate change and promoting sustainable energy consumption.

Organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Earth Hour encourages individuals, companies, organizations and Governments throughout the world to switch off their lights for one hour at 8:30 p.m., local time worldwide.The event also recognizes that everyone's involvement is needed in order to make a collective impact and take accountability for their ecological footprint.

The effects of global warming threaten the livelihoods of people around the world and already cause alarming impacts of the climate change phenomenon. In order to overcome this problem together the political leaders and civil society all over the world should raise awareness about the climate change, energy consumption issues and social development problems, in particular.

Coming in the lead-up to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's climate summit this September, Earth Hour aims to focus attention on the need for climate action.

For more information: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47464&Cr=climate&Cr1=#.Uzl_avldVqN
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