Highland landmarks to go dark during WWF�s Earth Hour

15th March 2013

Earth Hour.

At 8.30pm on Saturday 23rd March, hundreds of millions of people will turn off their lights for one hour across the globe, in a symbolic show of support for action on climate change and for a more sustainable future.

This year The Highland Council will again be supporting Earth Hour by switching off floodlights at local landmarks including the historical castles of Inverness, Eilean Donan and on the shores of Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle. Lighting at Inverness Cathedral, Ruthven Barracks, Ness Bridge, Packhorse Bridge, the A9 rock face at Aviemore and Spey Bridge in Grantown will also be turned off for the full weekend.

The Council has supported WWF�s Earth Hour each year since it began in 2008. Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Drew Hendry said: �This year�s Earth Hour is celebrating the power of nature and the way renewable energy can help move us away from fossil fuels and reduce global carbon emissions. This is especially important in Highland with our wealth of wind, tide and waves.

�We hope that by taking part people will think a bit more about the energy they use, where it comes from and the impact this has on the environment and climate change.�

The Highland Council has reduced carbon emissions from its services and operations by 13% since 2007/08, ahead of the 12% reduction target set in the Carbon Management Plan. This has been achieved through reduced energy use in the Council�s estate, fewer business miles travelled, fleet fuel savings and a reduction in waste disposal.

The Council is currently developing new actions to continue to reduce carbon emissions that will meet the Scottish Governments target of 42% overall saving by 2020 as set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009. More information is available at: www.highland.gov.uk/climatechange

The Earth Hour website offers a Toolkit highlighting details, ideas and case studies of action. In 2012, a record 152 countries took part for the biggest call to action for the protection of the planet. On the night, people celebrated Earth Hour with candle-lit meals, topical film screenings, torch-lit walks, pub quizzes and even a game of night golf.

To register for this year�s event and discover more ways to participate, please visit www.wwfscotland.org.uk/earthhour