EARTH HOUR ANNOUNCES MAJOR RELAUNCH

Earth Hour today announces a major relaunch for 2014, evolving from a single event each year to a year-round social movement.

On Earth Hour’s agenda for 2014 is the urgent need to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of climate change.

A new report, Lights Out for the Reef, released today as part of Earth Hour’s 2014 re-launch highlights the latest scientific findings on climate change impacts on the Reef. Authored by University of Queensland scientist Dr Selina Ward, the report reveals that effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef will be irreversible by 2030, just 16 years away, unless action is taken now.

On Saturday 29 March, Earth Hour invites Australians to host friends and family at their homes or join a community gathering to watch a remarkable, world-premiere Earth Hour documentary about the Reef and climate change, before turning off their lights at 8:30pm to make a stand for its future.

50 organisers of the most unique and inspiring events will be selected to take part in Camp Earth Hour in May this year – an opportunity to meet with leading scientists, learn about the effects of climate change on the Reef and be trained in what they can do to make a difference.

Australians are encouraged to register their Earth Hour gathering at www.earthhour.org.au.

Major events to screen the Earth Hour documentary and celebrate the hour will also take place in metro centres around the country including Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Perth and Townsville, with more to be announced in coming weeks.

“The Great Barrier Reef is at a turning point,” said Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, one of the world’s leading experts on the Reef and a Professor of Marine Science at the University of Queensland. “If we don’t act now, the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef will be irreversible in just over a decade.”

“The scientific consensus has concluded that further increases in CO₂ and average global temperature are almost certain to destroy the coral communities of the Great Barrier Reef for hundreds if not thousands of years. Losing the Great Barrier Reef for even a few years, let alone thousands, surely demands more attention from all of us,” he said.

The new Earth Hour is being led by Anna Rose, former Young Environmentalist of the Year.

“The action that Australia and world governments take on climate change in coming years will determine the fate of our Great Barrier Reef,” she said. “The Reef teems with life and is one of the many reasons Australia must set stronger targets to reduce carbon pollution.”

“That’s why we’re asking Australians to join us on Saturday 29 March by switching off their lights to show their support for climate action and the Reef,” said Rose.

The Lights Out for The Reef report can be found at: http://earthhour.org.au/LIGHTS_OUT_FOR_THE_REEF_Earth_Hour_2014.pdf (key points next page)

Link to Media Game radio grabs with Anna Rose, head of Earth Hour Australia: http://mediagame-1.wistia.com/projects/p7ss2rzwbe

For press info, copy of the report, interviews or images, please contact Access PR: Rachael Hoy, 0416 400 737, rachael@accesspr.com.au or Sarah Shields, 0408 283 091, sarah@accesspr.com.au

Earth Hour is powered by WWF-Australia.

Lights Out for the Reef Report: key points

• The complexity and density of life on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef makes it one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. Turtles, coral, clown fish, star fish, manta rays, sharks, dolphins, are just a few of the amazing creatures that call the Great Barrier Reef their home.

• The Great Barrier Reef contributes around $6 billion dollars annually to the Australian economy through tourism, and commercial and recreational fishing. These industries employ over 60,000 people and are a mainstay of regional communities along the central and north Queensland coast.

• The Great Barrier Reef is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to the impacts of climate change. The Great Barrier Reef is under pressure from excessive development, excessive sediment, and overfishing – but the greatest challenge facing reefs into the future is climate change.

• If we don’t act now, the effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef will be irreversible in just sixteen years.

• There has been substantial damage to the reef from climate change already. If we don’t act now, the carbon pollution we put into the atmosphere from burning fossil fuels will make climate change worse and cause further damage to the reef.