The City of Johannesburg has encouraged residents to take part 8h30 and 9h30 this evening by switching off the lights for that one hour. This year’s theme is ‘Climate Change to save Earth’.
The event is a global initiative by the World Wide Fund for Nature to help raise awareness of the need to protect the planet.
The symbolic gesture of turning off the lights is targeted at raising awareness about climate change and the effect it has on the planet.
The world’s major economies, including China, the US and Europe are rapidly moving away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources including wind and solar.
South Africa is also introducing more wind and solar power sources.
Deputy Director of Communications in the office of the MMC for Environment and Infrastructure, Stanley Itshegetseng, says, “
Dr Sandy-Lynne Steenhuizen says artificial light at night is any light in the house, business, or town that could be affecting pollinators, insects,and animals that are active at night in gardens and nature around us.
She adds that artificial light at night is a driver for the decline in pollinators.
Dr Sandy-Lynne Steenhuizen shares more:
National switch off
The City of Cape Town has called on residents to join the national switch off all non-essential lights for an hour – between 8H30 and 9H30 this evening to mark Earth Hour.
Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato, says they’re also launching an initiative to encourage residents to take action against climate change. The “Let’s Act” campaign is aimed at changing responses to the issue.
Meanwhile, A group of eco-warriors is dedicating part of their weekend to cleaning up the Durban Harbour in commemoration of Earth Hour.
University of KwaZulu-Natal student Doctor Refilwe Mofokeng is driving the clean-up that will focus on picking up plastic waste in and around the harbour precinct.
South Africans are being urged to look after their environment and recycle plastic waste – especially single-use plastics like cold drink bottles.
– Additional reporting Minoshni Pillay
