S'pore to mark Earth Hour

14 Feb 2009, ST

The target is to get 1m people here to switch off lights on March 28
By Amresh Gunasingham & Liaw Wy-Cin

THE Global Earth Hour is gaining traction here.
Its growing list of supporters this year includes Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security S. Jayakumar.

Pledging his support, Professor Jayakumar said: 'Climate change is one of the most serious long-term challenges facing humankind. An enduring global solution must involve the combined effort of governments, businesses, NGOs (non-governmental organisations), and individuals.'

Earth Hour, which started in 2007, is an annual event aimed at getting as many individuals, households and businesses around the world to turn off their lights and electrical appliances for one hour to bring awareness to climate change and conservation.

This year, tertiary institutions and a number of businesses islandwide will shut off exterior lights for an hour from 8.30pm on March 28. Residents are also encouraged to switch off their lights at home.

The target is to get a million people in Singapore to 'switch off'. This is Singapore's first official participation in the event, organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

More than a billion people from 1,000 cities around the world are expected to take part this time round.

A spokesman for WWF said that participating in Earth Hour provides a 'united global message' to individuals, businesses, politicians and governments that climate change affects, and is the responsibility of, the global community.

The inaugural Earth Hour, which took place in Sydney on March 31 two years ago, saw more than two million people and 2,000 businesses across the city taking part.

Last year, it swelled to 50 million people from 35 countries worldwide.

Prof Jayakumar said Earth Hour 2009 would help promote public awareness of the importance of addressing climate change.

Property developer CapitaLand was one of the few Singapore companies to take part last year.

'In 2008, CapitaLand's proactive initiatives to reduce, reuse and recycle enabled us to cut electricity and water consumption and avoid the equivalent of about $2 million in utility costs in Singapore alone,' said its group president and chief executive Liew Mun Leong. This year, CapitaLand is involving more of its properties here and overseas in the event.

SingTel is also getting into the act.

Mr Olivier Carnohan, SingTel's head of eBusiness, said customers will receive an insert in their bills - made of recycled paper - informing them of Earth Hour and encouraging them to participate. An SMS will also be circulated as a reminder.

The National University of Singapore (NUS) plans to hold a candlelight vigil involving up to 2,000 students. Said Mr Loo Deliang from NUS' office of environmental sustainability: 'We hope this spreads awareness of the climate change campaign and promotes the idea that every individual counts.'

amreshg@sph.com.sg
wycin@sph.com.sg