As cities world
over switch off lights for one hour tomorrow in an attempt to create
more awareness about climate change, the WWF exuded optimism about
Earth Hour 2010 initiative in India saving more energy than last year.
"Of all sectors, the power sector solely contributes a whopping 50 per
cent to India's total carbon emission. Under the Earth Hour initiative
people are motivated to switch off their lights and electrical
appliances from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm on March 27.
This is a measure to instill awareness about depleting climatic
conditions on Earth," says Aarti Khosla, Campaign Manager, World Wide
Fund India.
Last year, the organisation was able to encourage saving of around
1200 mega watts of energy in India, "but this year we definitely plan
to surpass this," points out Khosla.
Growing environmental threats - most recent devastating earthquakes in
Haiti and Chile - have rung alarm for natural resource conservation at
all levels.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called Earth Hour
"both a warning and a beacon of hope."
"Climate change is a concern for each of us. Solutions are within our
grasp and are ready to be implemented by individuals, communities,
businesses and governments around the globe," Ban said in a statement.
The United Nations will be joining will join the initiative along with
many other landmarks around the world.
However, several other groups in India have also shown a keen interest
on the occasion in creating awareness in the masses regarding the dire
need to preserve natural resources.
"Climate change is a discrepancy created by persistent human
exploitation. Hence, its cure lies only in a consistent and united
human initiative...individual awareness and action is the key to
combat climate change," says Aditi Mehndiratta, head 'Sanrakshan',
nature conservation initiative of an NGO.
"The NGO has inspired lakhs of beneficiaries not only in India but
across the globe to switch all their lights and electrical appliances.
Along with this our followers would also sit in divine meditation on
Earth Hour and pray for the strength of Mother Earth," adds
Mehndiratta.
At the British Council High Commission in India, environmental films
will be screened a day prior to the Earth Hour. "A film screening and
photo exhibition is being organised in order to sensitise our staff
and their family about the depleting state of environment. Apart from
this, office lighting would be turned off from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm,"
says Dan Chugg, spokesperson of the Commission in India.
