SNP MSP for Glasgow, Bob Doris, today publicly backed WWF’s Earth Hour initiative and urged constituents, local businesses and organisations to also sign-up to the big switch off later this month.

On Saturday 28 March at 8.30pm individuals, businesses and public authorities in over 930 cities across 80 countries will turn off their lights for one hour in a graphic show of support for decisive action on climate change.

Across the world landmarks taking part include Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Table Mountain in Cape Town, Nelson’s Column in London and Christ the Redeemer statute in Rio de Janeiro. Here in Scotland, iconic landmarks already committed to switching off include the Forth Bridge, Edinburgh Castle and the Scottish Parliament.

2009 is a crucial year for climate change with world leaders meeting in Copenhagen in December to agree a new international climate deal that will come into force when the first phase of the Kyoto treaty expires in 2012. The Scottish Climate Change Bill is also currently making its way through Parliament.

Bob Doris MSP said: "Reducing energy consumption is not only the right thing to do in terms of tackling climate change, it is also a way of reducing the cost of your energy bills. Given the challenges facing the world in relation to both the environment and the current economic downturn  there are clearly good reasons to support the Earth Hour initiative as well as reducing energy usage for good."

Dr Richard Dixon, Director of WWF Scotland said: "WWF’s Earth Hour is a simple way for people to show their support for strong action on climate change. We very much welcome the support of MSPs and the participation of the Scottish Parliament itself. It promises to be the biggest show of support ever, involving communities from around the world in a dramatic hour of action on climate change."

Note:

WWF's Earth Hour – 8.30pm, Saturday 28 March 2009

*Sign up and switch off to show you want action on climate change.*

WWF's Earth Hour lights-out initiative began in Sydney, Australia in 2007 as an awareness-raising exercise. In 2008, it went spectacularly global when more than 50 million people in more than 270 cities in over 35 countries turned off their lights for one hour in March. This year Earth Hour will be even bigger with towns and cities signing up across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information visit: http://www.wwfscotland.org.uk/earthhour