NEW DELHI: People across the world observed Earth Hour by switching off lights on Saturday. Earth Hour is an initiative by the international wildlife and environmental body WWF where citizens and organisations around the globe show their support for action on climate change by turning off lights for one hour from 8:30 pm.
Delhiites joined millions of people across the globe to observe the Earth Hour by switching off electrical appliances for an hour to pledge support to combat the threat of global warming. Several shopping malls, hotels and major markets also observed the event marked across major cities of the world annually to pledge support for protecting the environment.
Organised by World Wide Fund for Nature, the 'Earth Hour' is celebrated across major cities of the world on the last Saturday of March annually by turning off non-essential lights and electrical appliances for one hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm.
With almost 50 million supporters across the globe and a network in over 100 countries, the annual 'Earth Hour' initiative has emerged as one of the largest global campaigns to combat climate change.
City Discoms BSES and NDPL had appealed to their consumers to observe the event. Started in Sydney in Australia in 2007, the 'Earth Hour' had become a global event in 2008 with participation of 35 countries. India joined the Earth Hour campaign in 2009.
Candlelight dinners were organised in the restaurants and 'Earth cocktail' served at bars to create a buzz and to excite the guests towards the cause.
Meanwhile, the United Nations also observed Earth Hour by turning off the lights for one hour at its facilities around the world. The world body, headquartered in New York, joined scores of other landmarks around the globe that are participating in the Earth Hour event.
Last year, Earth Hour reached out to over a billion people with a little over 6 million Indians participating in this global show of support.
Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has been appointed as the national brand ambassador of the cause. 'Kolaveri Di' fame Dhanush also urged people to switch off the lights for an hour on March 31.
Mumbai, corporates join in Earth Hour
Thousands of Mumbaikars participated in Earth Hour 2012 by switching off lights and other electrical gadgets while many corporate and public bodies also joined in the endeavour on Saturday night.
In many areas, fewer lights were visible, while in most housing societies and mega-housing complexes, only the essential lights were kept on as a precautionary measure.
A society office-bearer from Borivli, NZ Hussain said a majority of the members switched off their lights, but a few didn't participate, mainly because children were preparing for their ongoing annual examinations.
Several corporate and banks supported Earth Hour in a big way contributing to power savings and cooling the earth tonight.
ICICI Bank switched off lights and airconditioners at all its branches, offices and ATMs during the Earth Hour, said bank official, Ashish Singhal. However, ATM functions remained unaffected, he said.
Power producer and supply major Tata Power also conducted awareness campaigns and door-to-door movement to convince people to take part in Earth Hour.
It also organised a unique 'star gazing' event through Club Enerji, its nationwide energy conservation movement, involving school children.
In operation since three years, the Club Enerji movement has spread across more than 400 schools all over India and sensitised over 2.8 million people, achieving savings of over 3 million units of electricity till date, according to a spokesperson for the company.
In Pune, the National Defence Academy, the premier tri-services training institution, saved over 1,600 units of electricity by switching off all lights at its sprawling 8,000-acres of land on the outskirts of the city.
(With additional information from PTI and IANS)