Earth Hour 2016 in Madagascar Shines a Light on Climate Leaders

ANTANANARIVO -- Following a landmark year for climate, WWF’s Earth Hour is calling on people around the world to continue the charge and be a part of the global momentum to help change climate change. Earth Hour 2016 will be celebrated on Saturday, 19 March between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time.

ANTANANARIVO -- Following a landmark year for climate, WWF’s Earth Hour is calling on people around the world to continue the charge and be a part of the global momentum to help change climate change. Earth Hour 2016 will be celebrated on Saturday, 19 March between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. local time.

Last year was the hottest year on record. It was also the year countries came together to work against climate change at the historic summit in Paris. With the world at a climate crossroads, Earth Hour 2016 is our time to shine a light on climate action and climate leadership and build the foundation for a better future for our planet and future generations.

“Climate action today will decide what tomorrow looks like for years to come. Earth Hour empowers each individual to be a part of making climate change history, be it through a social event, interactive campaigns and even social networks,” said Siddarth Das, Executive Director, Earth Hour Global.

This year, Earth Hour celebrates its 10^th anniversary in support and celebration of the global environment. In the past nine years, WWF and Earth Hour teams around the world have harnessed the power of the movement to raise support and funds for access to renewable energy, protection of wildlife and their habitats, building sustainable livelihoods and driving climate-friendly legislation and policy.

In Madagascar, Earth Hour is being marked by rallies around the country. Thousands of people are expected to attend celebrations being held in Antananarivo, Morondava, Andapa and Toliara. Events include parades, exhibitions, school education events, photo contests, and even a candle light dance class. In Toliara, WWF will distribute 50 efficient cook stoves at discounted prices.

For the first time, Madagascar will also be celebrating on-line. WWF has been profiling Malagasy people who are taking climate action into their own hands. These Madagascar Climate Leaders are shining a light for the rest of the country to follow. Their stories are available on the WWF Blog, Dans Ma Nature, located on the WWF site, www.wwf.mg, or on the WWF Facebook page, www.facebook.com/WWFMadagascar.

“The message this Earth Hour is that we can all be climate leaders,” says WWF Country Director, Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana. “Climate change is a massive, global issue, but the solutions can come from all of us. These Malagasy climate leaders are examples of that. They are men and women, old and young, from all over Madagascar. We can all make a difference and lead the way on climate action.”

Everyone can participate and show their support for climate action by downloading a special Earth Hour 2016 ‘je suis un leader du climat’ image from the WWF Facebook page, and making it their social media profile photo this Saturday.

Since 2007, Earth Hour has mobilized businesses, organizations, governments and hundreds of millions of individuals in over 7,000 cities and more than 178 countries and territories to act for a sustainable future.