Vermont Business Magazine Burlington has been named one of three finalists in the Earth Hour City Challenge by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), based on Burlington Electric Department’s 100 percent renewably-sourced generation accomplishment, and will compete for the title of US Earth Hour City Capital this spring. Evanston, IL and Boulder, CO also were named as finalists. The Challenge, which spans one year and encourages cities to promote renewable energy and prepare for climate change, grew out of Earth Hour, the WWF’s global lights-out display to raise awareness around protecting our planet. Earth Hour will take place this year on Saturday, March 19 from 8:30-9:30pm, and Burlingtonians are encouraged to turn off their lights to symbolize their commitment toward addressing climate change.
The Burlington Waterfront and the Echo Center. VBM photo.
“The City of Burlington is honored to receive such significant recognition from the World Wildlife Fund’s global environmental movement, Earth Hour, and we’ll be doing all we can to earn the title of ‘US Earth Hour City Capital’” said Mayor Miro Weinberger. “I encourage our community to send a message about the importance of being good stewards of our environment by turning off their lights next Saturday evening.”
“Our team at Burlington Electric is proud of our 100 percent renewable generation accomplishment and will continue to lead through energy innovation,” said Neale Lunderville, General Manager at Burlington Electric Department. “We’ll keep working aggressively to reduce demand, realize efficiency gains, and expand renewable generation.”
While around the world on March 19, the lights of iconic sites like The Empire State Building and the Space Needle will be turned off, in Burlington, homeowners, renters, and business are encouraged to join City Hall, the Church Street Marketplace, and the Unitarian Universalist Church (UU) in turning off non-essential lights between 8:30 and 9:30pm. Unique to Burlington's celebration will be star and planet gazing on the UUlawn, sponsored by the Vermont Astronomical Society.
Beginning the week of April 25 and continuing through mid-June, the WWF will launch a social media campaign designed to engage citizens to vote and express support for their favorite city among the Earth Hour City Challenge finalists.
Earth Hour
"Earth Hour arrives at a pivotal moment. The threat has never been clearer but the momentum has never been so clearly on our side. Last year was the warmest year on record and the first year the entire world agreed to act together to turn back the climate threat,” said Lou Leonard, vice president, climate and energy, World Wildlife Fund. “But we can’t stop here. As the lights go out from New Zealand to New York, it’s time to do the work needed to make the Paris Agreement come alive. From the Clean Power Plan in America to a national cap-and-trade law in China, to a global system to tackle international aviation pollution, 2016 is the year where we can prove that a zero-carbon future is within our grasp. It's up to all of us to do our part."
In coordination with the 10th annual Earth Hour, local cites, across the country are doing more than turning off the lights. WWF’s Earth Hour City Challenge will honor resilient cities transitioning toward 100 percent renewable energy and addressing local climate threats. Selected from 15 US entrants, Burlington, VT, Evanston, IL and Boulder, CO are the 2016 Earth Hour City Challenge finalists. These three cities will go on to compete for the title of US Earth Hour City Capital, to be announced later this year, and have a chance to be crowned as the global Earth Hour Capital among 124 participating cities across 21 countries.
From resilient cities to inspired individuals, Earth Hour is a moment to use our power to combat the worst effects of climate change and create a future where people and nature thrive.
About Earth Hour:
Earth Hour is WWF's global environmental movement. Born in Sydney in 2007, Earth Hour has grown to become the world's largest grassroots movement for the environment, inspiring individuals, communities, businesses and organizations in over 170 countries and territories to take tangible climate action. Celebrating the tenth edition of its signature lights out event in March 2016, the Earth Hour movement continues to harness the power of its millions of supporters to shine a light on climate action and the power of the individual to change climate change.