The upcoming Earth Hour on March 24 calls on the urgent need to care for our planet’s biodiversity.
With the global theme #Connect2Earth, this year’s staging aims to raise awareness on the crucial importance of biodiversity as a viable resource link that families, communities, nations, and future generations all depend upon. Understanding this interconnectedness is key in solving Earth’s most pressing challenges.
“Collectively, we must now look deeper and see how our water, food, and energy consumption is endangering our planet’s biodiversity. It’s time to connect to Earth and rekindle our role as stewards of the environment,” avers World Wide Fund Philippines president and chief executive Joel Palma.
Using this year’s official hashtag #Connect2Earth, WWF-Philippines is encouraging everyone to harness the power of social media and help share their commitment to a “one planet lifestyle” by sharing stories and photos of their sustainable living actions to care for our planet’s biodiversity via Earth Hour Philippines’ Facebook event page.
WWF-Philippines’ head of Climate and Energy Program and Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Gia Ibay reiterates, “Sustained and concerted efforts are needed to help solve the planet’s deteriorating biodiversity that is further threatened by our changing climate. Governments, businesses, and communities all win significant gains when we all work together and bring positive change for the planet.”
This year’s Earth Hour Manila staging will come home to the iconic Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City, the venue of the country’s first Earth Hour switch-off event 10 years ago.
Aside from the 60-minute switch-off, highlights of this year’s Earth Hour Philippines event include activity booths, exhibits, and cultural performances by local artists to amplify #Connect2Earth messages creating a meaningful celebration to honor our planet. Earth Hour do-it-yourself activities and partnerships with businesses and organizations are also encouraged to promote and further strengthen the grassroots movement here in the country.
In support of Earth Hour’s vision, WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Iza Calzado, Rovilson Fernandez, and Marc Nelson, together with National Youth Ambassador Janine Gutierrez led the campaign’s kick-off at the Discovery Suites in Ortigas on Feb. 27.