WWF Earth Hour 2024 — Give an Hour for Earth

Posted on 22 March 2024

"LINE FRIENDS X WWF-Hong Kong Green Alliance" Officially Launched
Exciting Activities and Workshops at "Earth Hour Carnival" Promote Green Lifestyle
Hong Kong Joins Worldwide Lights-out to Support Sustainable Development

Almost 4,000 companies, organizations, buildings and landmarks across Hong Kong pledge their support by participating in the lights-out event
LINE FRIENDS partners with WWF-Hong Kong to establish the "LINE FRIENDS X WWF-Hong Kong Green Alliance", features LINE FRIENDS as sustainable living icons to promote the motto "Habits Protect Habitats"
The "Earth Hour Carnival" hosts a series of activities, including a green market, workshops, and outdoor wellness sessions to educate the public on the importance of conservation
Ambassadors Do Do Cheng and Kaho Hung, together with Special Ambassadors Eurasian Otter Lutra and Panda, take part in the lights-off ceremony

WWF-Hong Kong's Earth Hour 2024 is taking place this evening, March 23, with participating companies, organizations, schools and individuals switching off non-essential lighting and appliances starting at 8:30pm for one hour to demonstrate concern regarding the climate crisis and rapid biodiversity loss.

Earth Hour represents WWF's largest global environmental campaign, aiming to spur immediate climate action and ecological protection for sustainable development by mobilizing the public and all sectors of society to reduce carbon emissions together. This afternoon, the West Kowloon Cultural District also hosted the Earth Hour Carnival, with a series of exciting activities, including creative workshops, a green market, interactive education booths, and new outdoor wellness sessions introduced this year. These allow the public to understand the importance of conservation while inspiring everyone to take the first steps towards change and embrace sustainable living.

Almost 4,000 companies, organizations, and buildings across Hong Kong participated in the lights-out event this year. Esteemed artiste Do Do Cheng, joining for the first time as an Earth Hour ambassador, along with singer Kaho Hung and Special Ambassadors Eurasian Otter Lutra and Panda, are lending their star power in support, urging the public to connect more with nature and strengthen our collective determination to put green lifestyle habits into practice by bonding with our planet.

WWF-Hong Kong is honoured to have Ms. Sandy Song, Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, join Mr Dan Bradshaw, Chairman of WWF-Hong Kong and Ms Nicole Wong, CEO of WWF-Hong Kong in co-officiating the Earth Hour 2024 lights-off ceremony, rallying everyone to safeguard our planet and rethink our relationship with nature.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Dan Bradshaw, Chariman of WWF-Hong Kong stated: "This marks Hong Kong's 16th consecutive year participating in Earth Hour. Over the past 16 years, climate change and environmental degradation have presented our planet with escalating challenges. Each year's lights-out event carries great meaning, underscoring the importance of collective action. We must sustain the spirit of Earth Hour by aggressively reducing emissions, including implementing renewable energy programs, reforestation efforts, and sustainable development initiatives. The time has come to rethink our lifestyles, reduce our carbon footprints, and progress towards a sustainable future."

Ms Sandy Song, Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, also lent her support at the event, remarking in her speech: "The World Meteorological Organization recently reported that 2023 was the hottest year on record globally. In recent years, Hong Kong has been increasingly impacted by extreme weather events – this past summer, from June to August, was the hottest on record for Hong Kong. The torrential rainstorm from September 7 to 8, 2023, also brought record-breaking rainfall. Extreme weather's growing frequency and severity underscores the importance and urgency of collective action to address climate change. I hope everyone will pay more attention to the impacts of climate change, take action to protect our planet, and reduce energy consumption, emissions, and carbon footprints through lifestyle changes to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible."

Earth Hour 2024 ambassadors Do Do Cheng and Kaho Hung shared on stage how they connect with the planet in their daily lives. First-time Earth Hour ambassador Do Do Cheng remarked, "Sustainable living relies on each of our actions. Small habits makes a difference – simple steps like eating more vegetables, walking more, or reducing energy use like Earth Hour. These are important contributions to environmental protection."

Kaho Hung also encouraged everyone to spend more time in nature: "In the hustle and bustle of the city, we can discover the beauty of nature. Everyone can go to the outskirts more often and experience the beauty of the local ecosystem." After the lights-out moment, the Ying Wa Primary School choir gave a special performance to conclude the event perfectly.

Multiple landmark buildings also participated in the lights-out event, including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsing Ma Bridge, International Finance Centre, International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Observation Wheel, Central and Queensway Government Offices, Central Government Complex, Legislative Council Complex, and art and cultural venues across the West Kowloon Cultural District.

WWF partnered with LINE FRIENDS this year to launch the "LINE FRIENDS X WWF-Hong Kong Green Alliance." It aims to leverage LINE FRIENDS' healthy image and influence, together with WWF's environmental knowledge, to promote the motto "Habits Protect Habitats" and the goal of "jointly promoting environmental protection, conservation and sustainable living". By combining the healthy image and popularity of LINE FRIENDS and WWF-Hong Kong's expertise in environment conservation, the alliance aims to educate and encourage the public to choose sustainable lifestyles. The partnership will focus on various conservation topics, especially on marine and wetland conservation. This includes supporting WWF-Hong Kong's local efforts in coral rescue and restoration, as well as habitat management and wetland conservation in the Mai Po Nature Reserve, which are among the world’s most valuable ecosystems.

In addition to the lights-out event on 23rd March, WWF-Hong Kong has partnered with various organisations to promote sustainable living, including:

St. James’ Settlement Social Enterprise – Green Ladies and Green Little: This initiative motivates the public to donate unwanted clothes and promotes circular fashion. Partners like MTR Corporation, BDO, DAKS LONDON, Epson Hong Kong Limited, and Uni-Asia Group Limited have supported this activity by encouraging employees to donate suitable, yet clean clothes, giving them a second life;
Food Angel: Volunteers from Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group and Sustainable Seafood Business Members prepare meals at Food Angel’s Sham Shui Po kitchen to promote sustainable dietary habits and benefit people in need. The Sustainable Seafood was donated by Aquaculture Technologies Asia Limited, Hai Sang Hong Marine Foodstuffs Limited, Indoguna Lordly Company Limited and The Food Source Limited;

These initiatives promote a sustainable lifestyle in terms of clothing, food and transportation, aiming to protect the environment.