Dinenage urges residents to switch off
GOSPORT MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage, has urged her constituents to switch off electrical goods for an hour later tonight and celebrate the annual Earth Hour, which is due to start at 8:30pm and is set to be the world’s largest event aimed at raising awareness of climate change impacts.
The rise in the global environmental movement in recent years has shown just how many people care about our planet. Lights around the world will go out for the hour, from Edinburgh Castle to Buckingham Palace, as well as hundreds of millions of people around the world. In the UK alone, millions of people and iconic landmarks, including the London Eye, Royal Albert Hall, and National Museum Wales are expected to participate this evening from 8:30pm-9:30pm.
WWF has been calling on politicians to show their commitment to cutting emissions while restoring nature which must be at the heart of tackling the climate crisis, something which the Gosport MP amongst others are backing after last year’s COP26 Climate Summit held in Edinburgh.
Nowhere is this clearer than in looking at how countries use our land. Farming and land use sectors are responsible for 12% of the UK’s territorial carbon emissions and are major contributors to the UK’s global environmental footprint. WWF’s recently published Land of Plenty report finds that nature-friendly and regenerative approaches to farming could deliver far greater emissions reductions than previously estimated by the Climate Change Committee. Ahead of Earth Hour’s 15th anniversary, Dame Caroline joined the call by pledging to support UK nature and a net zero future.
Commenting in a brief online statement, Caroline said: “We must ensure we leave Britain cleaner and greener for our children. This is my tenth annual Earth Hour – every year it comes with a theme – this time it’s making people aware of the importance of sustainable land use. But it also sends a message that we can all do our bit, however small, to protect our natural world.”
Katie White, Executive Director of Advocacy & Campaigns, added her own thoughts as she said: “We need to see action now to bring forward comprehensive plans to slash emissions from farming and land use in order to promote the recovery of our one shared home. We’re delighted to see MPs from across the UK give their support to Earth Hour and pledge to protect our planet. We hope they will inspire many others in their constituencies and communities to make a promise of their own.”
