March 18, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Kota Kinabalu will officially participate in the Earth Hour 2011 Campaign to show its support and concern towards climate change. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and the Sabah Environment Action Council, together with the Hyatt Regency Kinabalu, would lead the way by switching off non-essential lights for an hour on March 26, between 8.30pm to 9.30pm.
Earth Hour is from 8:30pm to 9:30pm, 26th March
“In Sabah, Earth Hour will be practised for the third time. But this year, DBKK will be taking part in this campaign officially for the first time and will switch off more than 500 of its street lights for an hour, in support of this campaign.
“Apart from that, DBKK will be organising a photography competition involving Kota Kinabalu, before and during Earth Hour.
“This is a good way to document society’s involvement in the campaign through the camera lens while instilling appreciation towards the environment,” he told a press conference on the event here on Thursday.
Masidi said, being in the dark for an hour during Earth Hour was not enough to change or impact global climate.
It was the message to rejuvenate the environment and reduce carbon footprints that needed to be spread to societies across the globe, he added.
“As individuals, we can play a role in reducing green house emissions such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and methane that contribute to increased global temperature, and by re-evaluating our lifestyle.
“Easy things like saving electrical usage, choosing energy-saving appliances, using public transportation and recycling items can make a difference to the environment,” he said.