Pontianak - Earth Hour is back to greet the people of Pontianak. This global campaign movement initiated by WWF targets all components. Starting from individuals, communities, businesses, to the government. All components are invited to jointly care about efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions which result in global warming and ultimately have an impact on climate change.

Earth Hour Pontianak City Coordinator Windy Chintia said that the peak night of the EH celebration will be held on March 24, 2018. "Unfortunately, this year there is less response from the government. Maybe it's because it coincides with the election campaign or there are other factors," she said in the EH Media Briefing at the WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program Office, Thursday (3/15/2018).

Earth Hour, Windy said, in doing the movement always shows a way to care, and do one easy and cheap action simultaneously around the world. Namely, turning off lights and electronic equipment that is not being used for one hour, on every Saturday in the third week of March at 20.30-21.30 (local time).

The Biology student of Tanjungpura University Pontianak explained that Earth Hour is a mass movement that aims to campaign for a green lifestyle. Therefore, there are several activity programs that are carried out in order to achieve a society that is more aware and concerned about the importance of protecting the earth. This activity program consists of Public Campaign, School Campaign, Goes to Campus, and others which are summarized in Beyond the Hour.

The implementation of Earth Hour, which is held annually at the city icon, aims to elevate the city icon and show the world about the commitment of the city government in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

As the culmination of the series of activities, Earth Hour will hold a celebration night at Taman Alun Kapuas as the main venue. Other activities are also held at several city icons such as the Mujahidin Mosque, Tugu Digulis Untan, and the Cathedral Church which will be the Switch Off spot on that night.

Head of Pontianak City Environment Agency, Sri Sujiarti, M.Si said that this movement invites everyone to be able to participate in reducing the rate of climate change, by making a green lifestyle and energy-saving behavior a habit. "An example of this green lifestyle can be done by sorting waste. This is in line with the Pontianak City Environment Agency's program, one of which is to realize Waste-Free Pontianak 2025," she said.

WWF-Indonesia West Kalimantan Program Manager, Albertus Tjiu said Earth Hour is one of WWF's media campaigns that invites people to care more about the environment. "If people care, this will affect many aspects. For example, Sustainable Consumption Production and biodiversity. The consumptive behavior of the community that is not accompanied by concern for the environment will cause the earth's life to be shorter and unfit to live in," he explained.

We can already feel the impact of this indifference, ranging from increasingly hot temperatures, erratic seasons, and others. In addition, this consumptive behavior also affects the amount of forest that exists from the large number of processed wood products used. The number of forests that are converted affects the existing biodiversity, especially in West Kalimantan.

For 2018, Earth Hour in Indonesia has entered its tenth year and in Pontianak its seventh year. Of course, Earth Hour has brought lifestyle changes to individuals, communities, businesses to the government.

Pontianak City Government supports this activity by issuing a circular letter to turn off unused lights for 1 hour at 20.30-21.30.

In connection with this, Earth Hour Pontianak held a Media Gathering by cooperating with all media in Pontianak City to remind what Earth Hour Pontianak has done over the past year.