Take part in Earth Hour switch-off

Christchurch City Council is encouraging residents, schools and businesses across the city to show they care about our planet by turning off their lights during Earth Hour.

Earth Hour started in 2007 as a symbolic lights-out event in Sydney and has grown into the world’s largest grassroots event for the environment.

During Earth Hour, which starts at 8.30pm on Saturday 28 March, millions of people around the globe will turn off non-essential lighting for 60 minutes to show their support and commitment to climate action and caring for nature. 

“Turning off the lights is a symbolic way that people can show they are concerned about the health of our planet and that they want to see action taken to address climate change,’’ says Christchurch City Councillor Sara Templeton, who chairs the Sustainability and Community Resilience Committee.

“Christchurch City Council will be turning off all non-essential lighting in its facilities to show its support for Earth Hour and we would really encourage businesses, community groups, schools and households across the district to do likewise.

“As a city we declared a climate and ecological emergency last year and committed ourselves to doing all we can to reduce our carbon emissions.  We are working towards Christchurch being carbon neutral by 2045, but to achieve that goal everyone is going to have to play their part.

“A great way to start is to understand your carbon footprint and then take steps to reduce it.  The Future Fit calculator is a very useful online tool that allows you to get a snapshot of your household’s carbon footprint and helps you to identify ways you can lessen it.  Everyone and every act counts”, Cr Templeton says.