Last year’s Earth Hour Glasgow aimed to raise awareness of the city’s green credentials and its bid to be one of Europe’s most sustainable cities.
The award was today presented by WWF Scotland’s Panda mascot to Bailie Elaine McDougall, Executive Member for Transport, Environment and Sustainability, who said: “I am delighted to receive this award for Glasgow City Council’s efforts during Earth Hour 2015. Glasgow this year will continue to support this global event which shows how much we care about our planet.
“Everyone can make a difference to help protect our planet and we all have a key role to play. Small, simple changes in our everyday routine can help combat climate change. If we walk or cycle on shorter journeys rather than taking the car or wash our clothes at 30°C, these can make a positive impact in our local environment and save us money as well.
“I hope that everyone in Glasgow will switch off their lights in solidarity with the thousands of cities around the world taking part in this wonderful event.”
To celebrate the global event, Glasgow City Council will be:
- Switching off all non-essential lights in our headquarters at 8.30pm on 19 March for one hour
- Encouraging our staff, schools, businesses and our citizens to sign up
Across Glasgow, iconic buildings including the Glasgow City Chambers; Riverside Museum; People’s Palace & Winter Gardens; Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum; the Mitchell Library along with landmarks including the Clyde Arc Bridge; Doulton Fountain and Needle in Glasgow Green will take part in Earth Hour. Glasgow Cathedral (courtesy of Historic Scotland), Cranhill Water Tower (courtesy of Scottish Water) and the University of Glasgow will also be involved.
Major shopping centres across Glasgow will also take part in the event this year including Buchanan Galleries, St Enoch Centre, The Forge and Silverburn. The Millennium Hotel and The Piper Bar both in George Square will also take part again.
These iconic Glasgow buildings, landmarks and businesses will join over 170 countries, 7000 cities and towns, as well as world renowned structures such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Sydney Opera House and the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, in switching off their lights.
Furthermore, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is encouraging businesses in the city to switch their office lights off for this year’s Earth Hour.
The council has already been awarded a “Super Local Authority” badge by WWF for the work being done this year in promoting Earth Hour 2016.
Lang Banks, WWF Scotland Director, said: “In naming Glasgow City Council our Local Authority Earth Hour Champion, I’m absolutely delighted to be able to recognise the ongoing and fantastic commitment of the council and its residents to protecting our brilliant planet. We look forward to working with our newly crowned Champions for Earth Hour 2016.”
Since 2007, WWF’s Earth Hour’s unique display of darkness has become a global phenomenon with hundreds of millions of individuals coming together each year. In 2015, a record-breaking 172 countries joined the global celebration.
Everyone can join the celebration for WWF’s Earth Hour on Saturday 19 March 2016. For more information and to sign up please visit http://earthhour.wwf.org.uk/
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