By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz
The World Wide Fund for Nature-Philippines (WWF-Philippines) urged the public to take part in Earth Hour 2020 from their homes through actions as simple as closing and leaving off non-essential lights from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday.
WWF-Philippines and Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Angela Ibay
(WWF / ALO LANTIN / FACEBOOK)
This year, Earth Hour marks a moment of solidarity as global communities unite and organize events digitally.
"We wanted to maximize the use of digital/online platforms to spread the message of Earth Hour," WWF-Philippines and Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Angela Ibay said.
"There's this whole digital space that we haven't fully maximized yet. So, Earth Hour, in a lot of countries, is going online this year.”
Filipinos are expected to participate in the "lights off" campaign tonight at their homes
"This current situation only strengthens our decision to conduct Earth Hour digitally," Ibay said.
The annual event started as a "lights out" event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. The Philippines joined the switch-off event the following year.
WWF-Philippines has also launched its campaign #ChangeTheEnding to show the public that there are current realities that must be dealt with, such as changes in rain patterns coupled with the country's growing population that could result in severe water shortages before 2030.
The groups said these are scenarios that could occur if nothing is done now.
They asked businesses, local governments and individuals to help address these issues by going beyond mere commitment.
The Philippines' Climate Change Commission (CCC) said the Earth Hour is an opportunity for people to reflect on humanity's intrinsic relationship with the environment and the world we live in.
"Recent studies on climate change have warned that we only have a decade left to prevent the irreversible damage to our planet and keep global warming within relatively safe limits," CCC Secretary Emmanuel De Guzman said.
"Further delay in climate action is an utter disregard for social and climate justice and for the future of our children and the generations to come is at stake.”