Earth Hour is a worldwide movement which involves a multitude of cities turning off their lights for one hour on a specified night of the year. This concept was initiated in Sydney, 2007, and is designed to draw attention to the issue of sustainability and cities. For those who participate, Earth Hour acts as a medium in which they are able to acknowledge their commitment to this responsibility, whilst raising funds for environmental projects.
In terms of acting upon the need to foster a greater interaction between sustainability and cities, Earth Hour can be said to be little more than a symbolic gesture. This concept is still largely in its infancy, so it is a start. The intentions are there, and this movement does raise awareness for ecological initiatives that need immediate attention. In Australia this year's event focused on implementing policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef, a national treasure under immediate threat from climate change. however, as it is essentially one hour of action per year, Earth Hour is vulnerable to ridicule. Commenting on the event, Danish political scientist Dr Bjorn Lomborg argues that it does little to address the primary concern of global warming.
"While more than a billion people across the globe make a symbol of foregoing non-essential electrical power for one hour a year, another 1.3 billion people across the developing world will continue to live without electricity as they do every other night of the year."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-29/australia-marks-earth-hour/5354338
In terms of acting upon the need to foster a greater interaction between sustainability and cities, Earth Hour can be said to be little more than a symbolic gesture. This concept is still largely in its infancy, so it is a start. The intentions are there, and this movement does raise awareness for ecological initiatives that need immediate attention. In Australia this year's event focused on implementing policies to protect the Great Barrier Reef, a national treasure under immediate threat from climate change. however, as it is essentially one hour of action per year, Earth Hour is vulnerable to ridicule. Commenting on the event, Danish political scientist Dr Bjorn Lomborg argues that it does little to address the primary concern of global warming.
"While more than a billion people across the globe make a symbol of foregoing non-essential electrical power for one hour a year, another 1.3 billion people across the developing world will continue to live without electricity as they do every other night of the year."
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-29/australia-marks-earth-hour/5354338
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