Some of the City’s most iconic landmarks will be turning off their lights for an hour this Saturday (26 March) as part of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s environmental movement Earth Hour.

At 8.30pm the City of London Corporation will be switching off lights at a number of its buildings for one hour to support the campaign, including the Guildhall, the Mansion House, Barbican Arts Centre, Old Bailey Central Criminal Court and Tower Bridge.

The City Corporation is asking other organisations in the Square Mile to do the same and join the movement by switching off their lights on Saturday.

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the WWF. The event is held every year to encourage people, communities, and businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights for one hour, from 8:30pm to 9:30pm on a specific day in March, as a symbol of commitment to the planet.

It began as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Since then, it has grown to include more than 7,000 cities and towns across 190 countries and territories to raise awareness for energy consumption and effects on the environment.

In October 2020, the City Corporation approved its Climate Action Strategy, as part of its commitment to improving our environment, and help the City become net zero by 2040.

A spokesperson for the City of London Corporation said:

“We are proud to support Earth Hour again this year and highlight the very real issues facing our planet.

“Light pollution and energy efficiency in particular are climbing further up the agenda.

“We want to join WWF and the millions of people across the world to raise awareness of energy consumption and the effects on the environment.

“Together we can help reduce our impact on the natural world and we encourage others in the City to do their bit.”

To make a pledge for Earth Hour, or to find out more, visit www.wwf.org.uk/earthhour

The City Corporation is taking a number of bold and practical actions to tackle climate change. 

It protects and conserves 11,000 acres of green space in London and south east England – including Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest – and over 200 smaller ones in the Square Mile, which absorb and store carbon dioxide emissions that are driving global heating.

The authority has been purchasing 100% renewable electricity since October 2018 and is generating electricity on sites it owns across London.  

As well as investing in off-site renewable energy and buying renewable energy already available on the market, the City Corporation is increasing the number of solar panels on its buildings and investing in installations such as wind or solar farms.

It is also taking action to tackle vehicle emissions such as turning parts of the Square Mile into zero-vehicle emissions zones by 2022 and banning the purchase of diesel vehicles from its own fleet, where there is a clean market alternative.

The organisation is lead on a London-wide crackdown on drivers who leave their engines idling, bringing in tight restrictions on harmful emissions from bulldozers and generators and runs emissions-based charges for on-street parking in the Square Mile.

ENDS

Media Enquiries

Kristina Drake

Media Officer, City of London Corporation

Kristina.Drake@cityoflondon.gov.uk

07710860884

Notes to editors

About the City of London Corporation:

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK.www.cityoflondon.gov.uk