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Friday, March 29, 2024

Earth Hour 2019 focuses on plastic pollution

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Following the global #Connect2Earth theme of Earth Hour, the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines shines a light on the issue of single-use plastics and the solutions to help address it in this year’s nationwide switch-off event. 

Earth Hour 2019 focuses on plastic pollution
NO TO SINGLE-USE PLASTICS. The World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines dedicates this year’s Earth Hour celebration to raising awareness of the dangers of single-use plastics. 

“The last decade of Earth Hour has contributed so much to the global climate agenda and has paved the way for many conservation wins. Now that we are ushering in the second year of the movement’s new decade, our efforts will still be centered on raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity to counter the worsening impacts of climate change,” said WWF-Philippines head of climate and energy program and Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Gia Ibay.  

Last year’s launch of #Connect2Earth saw more than 17,900 landmarks and monuments in over 180 countries and territories switching off their lights to show their commitment to and support for raising awareness and inspiring action on conserving nature and biodiversity.  

Earth Hour 2019 focuses on plastic pollution
From left: WWF-Philippines president and chief executive Joel Palma, Youth Programme and AIS development executive of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Yasser Sarona, Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Gia Ibay, Iza Calzado, Janine Gutierrez, and Rovilson Fernandez. 

According to WWF-Philippines, both #Connect2Earth and #EarthHour trended in 33 countries and garnered more than 3.5 billion impressions worldwide. 

WWF-Philippines is anchoring this year’s celebration on single-use plastics, one of the biggest threats to biodiversity. 

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Leveraging on the momentum of its #AyokoNgPlastik movement, WWF-Philippines hopes to further create awareness of the dangers of single-use plastics, spark conversations, change mindsets and habits of consumers, urge businesses to operate more sustainably, and influence policy. 

Adopting the WWF network’s “No Plastics in Nature” initiative, WWF-Philippines believes that Earth Hour 2019 is the best way to send out a clear message to take a stand against plastic pollution toward its ultimate goal of mobilizing public support for legislations on plastic waste management.   

“The Philippines is the third major plastic polluter of oceans in the world and we, Filipinos, must unite and create concrete steps to stop this worsening situation,” stated WWF-Philippines president and chief executive Joel Palma.

He continued, “We have to realize how nature is vitally important in our daily lives and preventing single-use plastics from entering nature is a big step towards a greener, more sustainable planet,” 

Palma reiterated the importance of working together to achieve a long-term solution to this environmental problem that significantly contributes to nature loss.  

Earth Hour 2019 focuses on plastic pollution
Coastal cleanup volunteers pick up plastic trash among other waste. (Photo from WWF-Philippines/Facebook)

The kick-off event of Earth Hour 2019 on Feb. 28 saw commitments for nature formalized and renewed as the Boy Scouts of the Philippines inked a memorandum of agreement with WWF-Philippines. National Ambassadors Rovilson Fernandez and Iza Calzado, as well as National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez, renewed their contracts to reaffirm their declaration of support to conserve natural assets to ensure a living planet for future generations. 

The main switch-off event of Earth Hour 2019 is slated on March 30 at the Globe Circuit Event Grounds in Makati from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., with the actual one-hour switch-off at 8:30 p.m. 

Earth Hour 2019 focuses on plastic pollution
The Philippines is the third major plastic polluter of oceans in the world. 

At least 3,000 scouts will be deployed to the public event that will feature booths, activities, and performances that will honor the planet. Meanwhile, everyone from all over the Philippines is also encouraged to switch off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. in solidarity with millions around the world who will do the same.

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