FIE's website recorded a 38% drop in people viewing our Earth Hour page compared to 2010. Eirgrid, the national electricity supply grid coordinators, said there was no significant decrease in demand this year compared to a 2% reduction in 2009. That was the equivalent of lighting for 125,000 houses.

While Earth Hour was supported by the Minister for the Environment and the power companies, there was no national media campaign. This is critical to ensure that people hear about the event and its implications.

Many individuals and groups arranged great events and many lights went out but there was no serious support from the Irish business community. Sustainability is at the top of the agenda of European and international businesses but in Ireland this awareness appears to be absent.

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Eco-Eye presenter and environmentalist Duncan Stewart says that ‘Earth Hour for me means that once a year for one hour we celebrate our environment - and the need to protect our environment. We should just switch off our lights, walk out of house - even for one minute - and communicate with everyone else on our streets - even in country areas - to show that we care about our environment.'

Earth Hour 2011 is on Saturday 26 March from 8.30 - 9.30 PM.

During this hour individuals as well as businesses and Government buildings all over the world will turn off their lights for one hour to demonstrate a global concern for the environment and global warming. 125 countries joined Earth Hour last year. 4000 cities took part. Paris, Moscow, Berlin, Bern, Amsterdam, Madrid, Vaduz, and Dublin joined cities as far afield as Capetown and Rio Janerio. 

Final Press Release    |    Earth Hour Page

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Described as ‘an incredible success," by World Wildlife Fund International Director General James Leape, Earth Hour 2009 saw monuments, castles, public buildings across Ireland join 88 countries around the globe in going dark for one hour.

Last year Ireland was the only country in Europe to take part in Earth Hour. This year the 65 European Union buildings in Brussels went dark as 500,000 households turned off in 193 cities, towns and municipalities in that country alone - about one in three households.

Iconic buildings across Ireland turned their lights off, including Government buildings, Leinster House, the Custom House, and the Four Courts. Countrywide, the Rock of Cashel, the most visited heritage site in Ireland, was plunged into darkness as was Cahir Castle, Ormonde Castle, Carrick on Suir, Donegal Castle and Trim Castle in Co Meath, the largest Anglo Norman castle in Ireland.

EirGrid reported a reduction for the hour of 70 MW, enough to power 45,000 homes or 100,000 plasma TVs. 

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SIPTU General Secretary, Joe O'Flynn said he was happy to offer the Union's support to the Earth Hour 2008 global campaign.

"Just as trade unions in developed and developing nations understand the strength of collective action, we also understand the need to tackle the threat of global warming," he said.

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SDLP Environment Spokesperson Tommy Gallagher called for on the Executive across the north to support the worldwide Earth Hour electricity switch-off on 29th March by switching off their own lights.

The blackout campaign began last year in Australia to raise awareness of the impact an individual can have on energy consumption.

He said: "At 8:00 PM on Saturday 29th March people in 22 cities around the world will put the lights out for one hour. Dublin will be one of them - Environment Minister John Gormley is a strong supporter of Earth Hour, and so is the Lord Mayor. Government buildings across the south will be in the dark for an hour and I believe we should do no less. One simple act can deliver a powerful message about the need for action on alternative energy, carbon footprint, sustainability and a host of related environmental issues.

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25 February 2008

Mr. Tony Lowes,
Friends of the Irish Environment,
Allihies,
Co. Cork.

Dear Tony,

Many thanks for your correspondence about Earth Hour. As you are aware, I have set addressing climate change as my number one priority for this Government and I applaud all initiatives that draw attention to the causes and implications of climate change for Ireland and the wider world. To that end, this government has commissioned a multi million euro climate change communications and public awareness campaign that will drive this message amongst the public generally. It will also engage with specific sectors and will work in partnership with them to address the emissions for which they are responsible.

I understand that a number of local authorities have engaged in supporting Earth Hour. I have forwarded a copy of your correspondence to my colleague Minister Noel Ahern, T.D. who has responsibility for the OPW asking him to support the local authorities' efforts by including appropriate State properties in Earth Hour.

I have also written to a number of Bodies under the aegis of the Department asking them to consider supporting this initiative.

I wish you well with this initiative and I look forward to working with Friends of the Irish Environment in delivering real change to Ireland's approach to climate change.

Yours sincerely,

John Gormley, T.D.,
Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government.

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Those supporting Earth Hour in Ireland - especially the astronomers - had hoped to set the time here at 9 PM rather than 8 PM. Unfortunately the ‘brand image' is so globally pervasive that we have had to accept the internationally agreed time - and to try next year to have the event moved entirely to 9 PM to allow for countries at the more northern latitudes to experience Earth Hour in full darkness.

In fact, environmentalists would assist both the Irish Electricity Supply Board and the environment by switching off all lights for as many hours as possible that evening.

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"Agenda Item 26

MEETING OF DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL
11 FEBRUARY 2008

EARTH HOUR 2008

Motion: Councillor C. Smyth

"That this Council recognizes the need for action on global warming and the need to conserve energy, reduce carbon emissions and also the need to reduce light pollution of our night skies.

That Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Council will support Earth Hour 2008
(www.earthhour.org) by turning off all non-essential lights controlled by the Council from 9 to 10 PM on 29 March 2008 to support a collective world-wide effort to show the difference that can be made by this initiative and to raise public awareness of the need to use less energy.

Requests that the County Manager to take all possible steps to implement the turning off of all non essential lights in its control as part of Earth Hour 2008 Will write to the local Chamber of Commerce and business community to lend their support to this initiative.

And that the County Manager will make a statement on the matter."

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Statement by Joanna Tuffy TD
Spokesperson on Environment and Heritage

Deputy Joanna Tuffy has welcomed the decision by Dublin City Council to pass a motion tabled by Labour's Lord Mayor of Dublin Councillor Paddy Burke to take the lead and support Earth Hour on March 29th. (More details on Labour.ie)

"Earth Hour will see Irish towns and cities combining with towns and cities from all over the world to reduce energy use by switching off non-essential lights for an hour on March 29th between 9 and 10pm. Following on from Dublin City Council's decision to support the Lord Mayor's motion other Labour councillors will also be tabling motions asking their council's to take part in Earth Hour including South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council and Cork City Council.

"I am delighted for the support for Earth Hour so far and I will be encouraging members of the business community, institutions, families and individuals to join in and switch off their lights during that hour. Earth Hour brings home that from an individual to Government and everyone in between we have a shared responsibility to conserve energy and help tackle climate change.

"Last year in Sydney 2.2 million people participated in Earth Hour by switching off their lights and their efforts resulted in a 10 per cent drop in energy usage. This year the event is going global with cities such as Chicago, Copenhagen and Dublin all taking part."

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The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Paddy Bourke, has welcomed the council's endorsement of his motion seeking to support Earth Hour 2008.

Lord Mayor Burke said: "Earth Hour is an international campaign and Dublin is one of the latest cities to get behind this important event where on March 29th all non-essential lights will be switched off for an hour.

"This campaign is important and everyone from citizens up to Government has a duty to do what they can against global warming. It is up to us all to do what we can to reduce our CO2 emissions. Through one simple action, turning off our lights for an hour, we can deliver a powerful message about the need for action.

"I am thrilled that as Dublin Lord Mayor I will be leading our capital city in its participation in this international event. It was estimated during the Sydney Earth Hour last night demand for electricity dropped by 10 per cent. It would be fantastic if we could do the same in Dublin.

I would urge businesses and homes to join in and take part in the campaign." 

Read Metro's story on this

FIE is assisting in coordinating Earth Hour here in Ireland. Please contact us if you would like to be put in touch with others who are working on Earth Hour 2008.

Listen to FIE outline the project on RTE 1 Radio's Mooney Program.

Visit the international Earth Hour website.

See FIE's Irish Website Earth Hour Homepage.

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