WWF-Philippines Goes Digital for Earth Hour 2020

Manila, Philippines – Earth Hour celebrations continued this year with digital activities, held on the 28th of March, through the various digital assets of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines. People from all over the world participated through digital as a response to the global COVID-19 outbreak.

Earth Hour continues to be lauded as the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment as it moves onto its 13th year of celebrations. Since the first “lights out” event was held in Sydney in 2007, the movement has continued to bring together individuals, businesses, and governments alike in joint acts of commitment toward a future of environmental integrity and where man lives in harmony with nature.

Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International, said, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives from the COVID-19 outbreak and our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones or who are sick. In this hour of crisis, we need to unite now more than ever to safeguard our future and the future of our planet. It is a time for solidarity and a time to respond to challenges more creatively and work more collaboratively, which is why Earth Hour is being marked through digital events across the globe.”

The Earth Hour movement serves as an invitation for everyone to come together for the sake of the environment. In recognition of this, Maria Isabel Garcia, Chairperson of the Board of WWF-Philippines, said, “All our lives, joys and sorrows play out in our one and only home. Under the crisis of this pandemic, WWF’s Earth Hour signals a powerful call for solidarity with each other and with our planet. We need to affirm it now more than ever. Conservation is not just another advocacy; it should be our second nature. It is the only way we can change the ending.” Joel Palma, Executive Director of WWF-Philippines, said, “In the midst of this crisis we are all reminded that we are connected and we can only address this if we act as one. Earth Hour calls for our united and sustained response to care for our environment. We need to realize what is important.” As environmental issues grow in scale, the WWF network continues to expand the reach and impact of the Earth Hour movement.

Earth Hour Highlights

Earth Hour 2020 saw people from all across the globe raise their voice to invite action on pressing environmental issues in their countries. Through digital events, digital participation was observed in 190 countries and territories, and #EarthHour2020 and its related hashtags made 3.1 billion impressions globally. Earth Hour 2020 also trended on Twitter and Google Search in 37 countries.

South Africa launched a digital “Power to the People” campaign for a renewed focus on clean and reliable sources of energy. Singapore went fully digital for the first time ever. Earth Hour 2020 – Live & Unplugged, was a live-streamed, digital-only performance bringing together Singapore’s diverse voices for the environment. Australia went unplugged and online via an #EarthHourLive live stream with music acts, comedians and experts.

WWF-Philippines commemorated Earth Hour 2020 completely online. Prior to the switch-off, an Instagram Livestream was hosted by WWF-Philippines National Ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. Entitled “Conservation Conversation,” the two ambassadors talked about the environment, climate change, and volunteerism, as well as their own experiences working with WWF-Philippines. The show concluded at 8:30PM, to give way for the Earth Hour switch-off. Afterwards, WWF-Philippines held a watch party consisting of video clips from Our Planet, a nature documentary series made through the collaboration efforts of Netflix, Silverback Films, and the WWF International network.

Pledges of support towards the movement were made by businesses and government agencies, including a message from President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. “One of the biggest challenges that the world is facing today is mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. As a developing country that is no stranger to destructive natural calamities, it is imperative to ensure that we are proactive and responsive in addressing the environmental challenges confronting us,” said President Duterte.

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo also gave a pledge of support toward Earth Hour. “The problems we face, and their effects, are urgent and real. Polar ice caps are melting, species are disappearing from the planet forever, and the weather continues to change because of human activity. But all is not lost, and if we come together now, a solution can be found,” urged Vice President Robredo.

#ChangeTheEnding

WIth the launch of their new campaign, WWF-Philippines is asking everyone to help #ChangeTheEnding on the current environmental crisis. Earth Hour Philippines 2020 serves as a rallying point for the next five years of conservation work for the organization, as it seeks to instill a sense of urgency in the public for the most pressing environmental issues, while urging governments, businesses, and individuals alike to contribute in solving them.

Atty. Angela Ibay, Earth Hour Pilipinas National Director and Head of the Climate Change and Energy Programme of WWF-Philippines, said, “Earth Hour is the time we reflect and remember that every plant, every animal, every being plays an important role in the web of life in completing our planet. Even more so during this global pandemic, let Earth Hour be the time that our interconnectedness shine through as we raise our voices in solidarity to care for one another and for our shared home. It is imperative that we sustain these positive actions beyond the hour that we may #ChangeTheEnding for our collective future.”

Earth Hour Philippines 2020 was co-presented by GCash and was made possible with the help of official media launch venue partner Summit Hotel Greenhills, official apparel partner SSI, and official hydration partner Summit Still and Sparkling Water, with the help of WWF-Philippines’ corporate partners, Viber, Corkcicle, and Concentrix.

We would also like to thank the following national government agencies: the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice President, Climate Change Commission, National Parks Development Committee, National Historical Commission of the Philippines, League of Cities of the Philippines, League of Municipalities of the Philippines, Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Energy, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the Light Rail Transit Authority – who all gave their messages of support and issued circulars, urging their employees and constituents to take part in Earth Hour activities leading up to and during the hour.

Last but not the least, we would like to thank our official media partners: ABS-CBN, Myx, MOR, Metro.Style, ANC-X, ABS-CBN Lifestyle, ABS-CBN Sports + Action, Cinema One, CNN Philippines, GMA, GMA News TV, Kapuso ng Kalikasan, Phiippine Star, Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, Central Luzon TV 36, Our Awesome Planet, Radyo Veritas, and Globaltronics – who all helped share the message of Earth Hour Philippines 2020 through their own channels and platforms.