Over a billion people in 74 countries are expected to participate in Earth Hour this year. For India, which is participating in the lights-out campaign for the first time, Earth Hour 2009 highlights the fact that climate change is no less a threat than terrorism.

Lights on buildings will be dimmed and pivotal landmarks and monuments throughout city centres will be plunged into darkness as thousands of people join hands to campaign for an international treaty to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In India, the programme is promoted by WWF and supported by various institutes and corporates such as HSBC, Wipro, ITC Welcom group, HP, Taj group, HUDCO, HSBC, Google, Standard Chartered India and PVR Films. Bollywood star Aamir Khan is the brand ambassador for the campaign.

In Kerala, the event is being organised by the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), WWF, Energy Management Centre, Doordarsan, Kerala State Electricity Board and environmental agencies. Actor Suresh Gopi will be the honorary ambassador.

Highlighting the need for voluntary involvement in the campaign, CESS director M. Baba says it would go a long way in creating awareness of the need for a global mandate for action on climate change.

earthhour.org, the portal for the campaign, says that more than 681 cities in 76 countries have already signed up to turn their lights out on March 28.

Origin in Sydney

Earth Hour is a movement initiated in Sydney in 2007 when over 2.2 million homes and business establishments switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008, the movement became a global one, with over 50 million people participating by voluntarily switching off their lights.

Earth Hour assumes greater importance as 2009 is a critical year for action on climate change, with the world’s leaders due to meet at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December to sign a new deal to supersede the Kyoto Protocol.