FAQ

1. What is Earth Hour?

• Earth Hour is World Wildlife Fund's global initiative where individuals, businesses and governments turn off their lights for one hour to cast a vote in favor of action on climate change. By voting with their light switches, Earth Hour participants send a powerful, visual message to their leaders demanding immediate action on climate change.
• Earth Hour is the largest climate event in history. In 2009, more than 3000 cities in 80 countries, including 200 U.S cities participated.
• Because the Earth Hour Event has been such a resounding success, the WWF is hoping to create political momentum for enacting national climate legislation and a global climate treaty. Participants in this movement are encouraged to write letters to federal and state legislators; invite friends and family members to take action; and incorporate ideas and solutions for combating climate change into their daily lives.

2. Now that the 2009 Earth Hour Event is over, what else can I do to support the effort?

The actual Earth Hour event is just the start. WWF will spend the rest of the year taking the voices of the people who participated in Earth Hour to our policy makers and work with them on finding ways to get us out of the climate crisis the world is facing.

Here's what you can do:

• Write a letter to urge President Obama, and your federal and state elected officials, to learn more about the Earth Hour campaign and to take legislative action to fight climate change. To do so, go to Vote for the Earth Today, complete the online form with your information, personalize your message, then click the "Send Your Message" button. Your letter will be sent to President Barack Obama, your members of Congress, your governor, and your state legislators.
• Spread the word about Earth Hour, encouraging your friends and family members to join you in taking action. To invite your personal network to join you, go to Spread the Word.

Now that that millions of people have cast their Vote for Earth, we hope that conversations will continue on climate change and that people will take initiative to make small changes in their lives to be more carbon efficient. We encourage simple but effective energy-saving measures such as installing compact fluorescent light bulbs which are more efficient and last much longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, choosing energy efficient appliances, making sure their car tires are properly inflated and unplugging electronics when they are not in use.

3. When is the next Earth Hour?

We are working hard to define the next Earth Hour Event and will let you know the details as soon as possible. Meanwhile, we ask that you continue to take action against climate change by writing your elected officials; spreading the word about Earth Hour to your personal network, asking them to join you in taking action and having their voices heard; and learning what you can do individually to fight climate change.

4. What happened during Earth Hour in 2009?

• In 2009, more than 3000 cities, 80 countries, and 200 U.S cities participated, including such cities as Atlanta, Las Vegas, Miami, New York, Beijing, Mexico City, Istanbul, Paris, Rome and Sydney. Please visit www.earthhour.org for a complete list.
• The 2009 Earth Hour event captured the public's imagination with lights going out at some of the world's most iconic landmarks including the Sydney Opera House, Bangkok's Wat Arun Buddhist temple, the Coliseum in Rome, Stockholm's Royal Castle, London's City Hall, New York's Empire State Building, Sears Tower in Chicago, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the Washington National Cathedral. Other symbols going dark included Cola-Cola's famous billboard in Times Square and Google’s traditionally white homepage went "black" in honor of the event.
• A host of celebrities also participated. Oscar nominated actor Edward Norton was the official ambassador for Earth Hour 2009 with support from Nobel Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actresses Janeane Garofalo and Jennette McCurdy, fashionistas Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, as well as musicians Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Coldplay, Jo Dee Messina, Big Kenny (Big & Rich), Gavin DeGraw, KT Tunstall, Mary Mary, Dierks Bently, Wynonna Judd, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lady Antebellum, SHeDAISY, Finger Eleven, Simple Plan, Justin Nozuka, The Veronicas and Rise Against.

5. How can I encourage friends and family to join the fight against climate change?

We've made it easy for you to invite your friends and family to join in the fight against Climate Change. By visiting Spread the Word you can quickly send them an email on how to take action.

6. Is the Earth Hour event merely a symbolic act?

Symbols are quite powerful. From the Boston Tea Party all the way to the sit-ins in the 60's, symbols have a way of sparking change that sweeps around the planet. Flipping the switch for the Earth Hour Event is a way for people to get involved and demand action wherever they are. It's easy so everyone can participate no matter their location, age or income level.

7. What are governments doing?

This December, leaders of the world will gather in Copenhagen to create an international agreement that will address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Earth Hour is a call to officials representing us that we need to reach a new global deal. On a regional level, many governments are using Earth Hour as a platform to launch their own green initiatives.

Many states are also enacting strong climate change measures, such as California's tough new automobile emissions standard, and many are also entering into regional frameworks for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as the Northeast Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

Congress is also expected to take up climate change legislation this year – a strong climate bill is a top priority of both President Obama and Congressional leaders.

8. What is Earth Hour's relationship with WWF?

Earth Hour is a World Wildlife Fund-led initiative that relies strongly on the support of valued partners. While WWF is the primary organization behind Earth Hour, many other groups and NGOs supported Earth Hour in 2009.

9. Why is WWF dealing with climate change?

WWF is committed to saving the planet's most threatened habitats and species, including tigers, rhinos, elephants and polar bears. To do this effectively WWF must focus on the most imminent threats, climate change being an overarching issue for all of them.

Simply put, climate change is a game changer. It threatens to undo the great progress we've been making in conserving the world's most important and most threatened regions and animals.

10. What else does WWF do to reduce the effects of climate change in the US and around the world?

WWF works with communities, governments and businesses around the world to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Our efforts are focused around four key areas:

1. Securing a new global climate treaty that will sharply reduce emissions and ensure global average temperatures are kept from rising beyond the dangerous threshold of 2 degrees Celsius (3.5 degree Fahrenheit). According to the IPCC, a UN scientific panel representing nearly all of the world's governments (including the US), if global average temperatures rise by more than 2 degrees C, we could expect to see very dangerous consequences that would be costly in both dollars and human lives. These impacts include violent storms, much stronger hurricanes, substantial sea level rise and extreme droughts. Already, global average temperatures have increased by .75 degrees C (1 degree F), over pre-industrial levels. WWF has an extensive campaign that is working with governments around the world, through the UN process, to secure a new global climate treaty. Negotiations on the treaty are expected to conclude this December in Copenhagen, Denmark.
2. Combating tropical deforestation, which accounts for nearly 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Each year, an area the size of New Jersey is cut down in the Amazon and Borneo, two of the world’s largest rainforests. WWF is on the ground in both of these places, as well as the Congo, working with corporate, governmental and community partners to protect the last of the world's tropical forests. Trees absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide – the primary greenhouse gas – which is released into the atmosphere when forests are cut down. If the Amazon were its own country, it would be the world's seventh largest emitter of carbon dioxide.
3. Working with corporations to improve efficiency and reduce emissions. Through WWF's Climate Savers program, some of the world's largest and most respected corporations – including Nike, Coca-Cola, HP and Johnson & Johnson – are reducing their global greenhouse gas emissions. And in the process, these companies are saving money as they make their operations more efficient. Climate Savers, now in its 10th year, currently has 19 corporate members.
4. Helping communities and nature prepare for and adapt to changes in climate. Climate change is already having an impact in regions all around the world. WWF is on the ground helping wildlife and ecosystems adjust to substantial changes that are resulting from a warming planet. For example, in response to the record melting of Arctic sea ice – the polar bear's main habitat – WWF is working with communities on the North Slope of Alaska to establish polar bear patrols to help mitigate increased instances of human-bear conflicts.