Ceredigion celebrates WWF’s Earth Hour 2016

​Ceredigion County Council is joining the global celebration for our brilliant planet by supporting WWF’s Earth Hour – a spectacular and symbolic lights out event that focuses the world’s attention on our planet, and the need to protect it. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Saturday 19 March, at 8.30pm, the Council will be joining forces with thousands of iconic landmarks globally, from The Sydney Harbour Bridge to Times Square in New York, as they show their support. Earth Hour’s unique display of darkness has become a global phenomenon with hundreds of millions of individuals coming together each year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Last year in Wales, it’s estimated that 500,000 people took part, sending out a united message of support. Participating Welsh landmarks included the Senedd in Cardiff Bay, Caernarfon Castle, and The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. 235 Welsh schools signed up and Assembly Members from all parties showed their support. More local authorities in Wales supported Earth Hour than ever before and this year will be even bigger. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To celebrate Earth Hour 2016, wherever possible all the Authority’s lighting will be turned off during the hours of darkness. However, the following sites are illuminated but the lighting will be switched off during Earth Hour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Canolfan Alun R Edwards
• Castle Grounds, Aberystwyth
• Constitution Hill, Aberystwyth
• Penmorfa Car Park
• Canolfan Rheidol Car Park
• Theatr Felinfach Car Park
• Minaeron, Aberaeron ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Alun Williams, Cabinet Member for Transport, Waste and Carbon Management said: “Ceredigion County Council has taken an active part in Earth Hour for several years now and was amongst the first local authorities in Wales to do so. We think it’s important that councils set an example and taking part fits well with our continued commitment to saving energy and investing in renewable energy which, as well as reducing carbon emissions by 13.3% in the last three and a half years, has also saved the council £846,500 a year in cumulative savings.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Anne Meikle, Head of WWF Cymru, said: “We’re delighted that [insert local authority name] will be supporting Earth Hour this year and hope that they’ll inspire many others to get involved. Climate change will have a massive impact on people, wildlife and habitats across the world, and we need to take action to protect them. By taking one simple step to switch off, you’ll be joining millions of people from around the world in this special celebration.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Everyone can sign up for WWF’s Earth Hour 2016. For more information and to sign up and add yourself to the map, visit www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​