"Lights Out!" Call for Gwent to Join Global Event for a Bright, Clean and Exciting Future

12.00.00am GMT Wed 25th Mar 2009

Michael German gets ready for the big global "Switch Off"

A Gwent Assembly Member is joining a worldwide campaign to urge Gwent residents and businesses to join in a global "switch off" to send a message to world leaders to seal a deal that will see carbon emissions reduced and combat climate change.

Local Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member, Michael German, today backed the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Earth Hour Initiative which will see famous world landmarks around the world plunged into darkness for one hour on this Saturday at 8.30pm.

Cardiff's Millennium Centre, Caerphilly Castle and local councils including Newport and Monmouthshire will join world famous monuments and landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Nelson's column in London's Trafalgar Square in a graphic show of support demanding decisive action on climate change.

The campaign has been launched in the run up to the crucial world leader's conference in Copenhagen later this year, which it is hoped will see a global agreement to cut carbon emissions from 2012 onwards as the existing Kyoto treaty expires.

Speaking at the Earth Hour event in the Senedd, Michael German said, "I am urging everyone to join in this huge global event from the comfort of their own home. For just one hour everyone in Gwent can join millions around the world and send a clear, strong message to world leaders that they have to agree to a cast-iron deal to reduce carbon emissions and avoid the very worst impact of run away climate change."

Saying that it was 'urgent' to get a global deal, he added, "The existing Kyoto treaty comes to an end in 2012. It would be a disaster not to get an agreement for a replacement to take us into a new bright future of the green economy. We can reduce our reliance on oil, gas and coal and go forward to an exciting, pollution free future."

Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru said: "WWF's Earth Hour is a simple way for people to show their support for strong action on climate change. We very much welcome the support of AMs and the participation of the Welsh Assembly Government itself. It promises to be the biggest show of support ever, involving communities from around the world in a dramatic hour of action on climate change."