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Earth Hour
On 28 March 2009, at exactly 8:30 pm, cities, towns and landmarks across the world went dark for 60 minutes in order to mark Earth Hour 2009—global event organised by WWF, the multinational conservation organisation. Earth Hour, the world's largest mass participation event involving hundreds of millions of people in more than 4,000 cities around the globe, provided a compelling demonstration that the perils of global warming can be addressed through the strength of collective action."Earth Hour signals a real desire from people all over the world for urgent action on climate change, and a mandate for the world's leaders to secure a new deal in Copenhagen that defines an effective global response"
—WWF International Director General James Leape
Lights out PwC
PwC—Earth Hour's initial corporate supporter—first became involved with the annual event in 2007 at the time of WWF's inaugural Earth Hour which saw 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses in Sydney, Australia turn off their lights on the evening of 31 March. Then, when Earth Hour went global in 2008, PwC provided staff members to assist with project management of the event.
This year, PwC member firms around the world participated in Earth Hour in their own unique way:
Australia
- Turned off lights in all offices.
- 580 hours of staff support contributed to WWF to develop national corporate engagement strategy. 1,200 companies in Australia signed up to Earth Hour.
Canada
- Worked with landlords of buildings in 23 cities to turn off lights and improve on previous year's 77 percent event participation rate.
- Commenced an energy awareness campaign incorporating CEO communications, posters and stickers.
China
- PwC offices in China, Hong Kong and Singapore switched off their lights including in the landmark PwC Tower in Pudong.
- In Shanghai, staff members worked with WWF to provide event management support. The Beijing, staff provided ad hoc event management support.
Fiji
- Switched off all office lights and engaged staff to personally take part in the event.
Greece
- Switched off all office lights and engaged staff to personally take part in the event.
Indonesia
- PwC worked closely with WWF locally to determine how they could collaborate and leverage the PwC client network.
- PwC engaged building management to promote Earth Hour to other building tenants.
- PwC was invited to join the Governor of Jakarta at a press conference promoting Earth Hour.
- Staff were also encouraged to personally take part in the event
Korea
- A branded campaign for staff was developed with slogans, "One hour of sweet recess for the earth!" and "Switch off the light, switch on your attention"
- Staff participation promoted through online newsletters, banners and screensavers, as well as notices on the local PwC portal.
Mexico
- Supporting communications distributed to partners and staff, alumni and friends and clients. All PwC offices lights turned off.
- Simultaneously, a park rehabilitation project was undertaken as well as the replanting of a garden across from the Mexico City office.
Middle East
- Earth Hour was supported across all 14 territories of the Middle East.
- The event was promoted to clients through direct communication.
- Partnered with the Ministry of Social Development, various high net-worth individuals, and two Bahrain-based telcos to distribute SMS messages promoting Earth Day.
- Held a dinner event at Ritz Carlton Bahrain for personnel from PwC and other Earth Hour sponsors during which lighting was switched from electric to candle concurrent with the beginning of Earth Hour.
- Internally, distributed an email to staff asking them to take earth-friendly action at home.
New Zealand
- Switched off all office lights and engaged staff to personally take part in the event.
Philippines
- Switched off all office lights and engaged staff to personally take part in the event.
- Commenced a program of turning off office lights every first Friday of the month.
Papua New Guinea
- Worked with WWF PNG to maximize impact of Earth Hour.
- To commemorate Earth Hour, held candle-lit dinner for clients and staff featuring local musicians.
Poland
- Used Earth Hour as an opportunity to educate and engage staff.
- Contacted building co-tenants to promote participation.
- Worked with security and cleaning services to ensure lights were turned off.
South America
- All South American territories agreed turned off office lights and promoted Earth Hour on their Web sites.
- Internally, promotional e-messages were distributed to staff and posters hung in offices. A banner ad was posted on the Intranet with a link to videos featuring local celebrities promoting the event. Videos were also played at cafe areas in offices.
- In some territories, external messages were distributed to clients.
- Brazil also developed a quiz on climate change with Earth Hour—as prizes.
Taiwan
- Switched off all office lights and engaged staff to personally take part in the event.
- Six cities across Taiwan participated.
Thailand
- Turned off lights in all offices.
- Built alliance with Kuala Lumpur Institute of Corporate Responsibility to increase participation among corporate and media companies, Penang hotels, and the Kuala Lumpur Business Club.
United Kingdom
- PwC UK turned out its lights and shut down all non-essential equipment.
- The Firm encouraged its people - and their personal networks of family and friends - to observe Earth Hour.
United States
- Turned off lights in 92 US offices
- Worked with landlords to increase participation of other building tenants, encouraged clients to turn off lights, sponsored volunteer events to reach out to other companies in the community, and participated in related city government events.
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