MANILA, (PIA) -- Join the biggest hour for Earth as the City of Manila will host the in-person Earth Hour event this year.
This year’s Earth Hour event will take place at the Kartilya ng Katipunan on Saturday, March 23, 8:30 PM.
“Manila is honored to be hosting this year’s Earth Hour celebration, especially with this year’s focus on eradicating plastic pollution. As the country’s capital, we’re keen on using the influence we have in engaging other cities and Filipinos to do their part in saving the environment,” said Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan and WWF-Philippines officials join for Earth Hour 2024, which calls for Filipinos to switch off lights and switch off single-use plastics. (Photo courtesy of WWF-Philippines)
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines Executive Director Katherine Custodio said this year’s Earth Hour Philippines’ focus is on addressing plastic pollution as it is one of the most pressing concerns for our country and a public health issue.
“Too many of us have forgotten that we are deeply connected with nature, but the way we live, the way we produce and consume, the way we create the spaces we live - all have made a tremendous impact on our environment, on biodiversity. We need to remember a simple message that humans will be ok only if nature, our planet is ok.”
Custodio added that we generate 2 million tonnes of plastic waste in the Philippines every year, wherein only 9 percent is recycled, and 35 percent leaks out into the open environment.
“As we are an archipelago of 7,640 islands, the damage caused by plastic pollution to our environment is magnified.”
The Earth Hour global celebration started as a symbolic event in Sydney, Australia in 2007 and has grown into one of the world’s largest grassroots environmental movements spanning over 7,000 cities and 193 countries and territories.
Across the Philippines, national landmarks, office buildings, government offices, and homes will also switch off non-essential lights to express support for efforts aimed at addressing our planet's sustainability.
The Philippines joined in 2008, making Earth Hour 2024 the sixteenth time the celebration is observed. From a symbolic lights-off event, Earth Hour has evolved into a movement that shines light on the issue of climate change and the importance of protecting the environment. (Manila/WWF-Philippines/PIA-NCR)
