Jakarta - Earth Hour, WWF's largest campaign, is once again set to bring together millions of people around the world to show their commitment to planet earth. As our shared home faces the dual threats of climate change and biodiversity loss, the largest grassroots movement for environmental action will mobilize individuals, businesses and governments to take part in conservation efforts and find solutions to build a healthy and sustainable future - and a planet - for all.

Started as a symbolic movement to turn off the lights in Sydney (Australia) in 2007, Earth Hour is now organized in more than 180 countries and territories, as a global moment of solidarity for the planet. Online, the hashtag #EarthHour and other relevant hashtags recorded 3.5 billion impressions leading up to Earth Hour, becoming the top trending topic in at least 30 countries. The movement has transformed the popularity of climate change and conservation actions around the world. And the unprecedented decline in global biodiversity has led to this year's Earth Hour focus on galvanizing support for action to save nature.

""Biodiversity and nature underpin our lives, economy, health, well-being and happiness. As we have exploited the earth and its natural systems to the limit, Earth Hour is an opportunity to use our power, as individuals or collectively, to demand and take action to protect this web of life in return for all it gives us, for the benefit of all life on Earth and our own future," said Marco Lambertini, Director General, WWF International.

In the past decade, Earth Hour has inspired millions of people to support and participate in important climate and conservation projects led by WWF and other organizations, helping to drive climate policy, awareness and action. Among the highlights, the Earth Hour movement has helped the creation of 3.4 million hectares of marine protected areas in Argentina, a 2,700-hectare Earth Hour forest in Uganda and helped new legislation for ocean and forest protection in Russia.

In 2018, WWF and Earth Hour teams around the world will highlight the most relevant environmental issues in their respective countries or regions. In Colombia, people will be calling for the country to target zero deforestation by 2020. French Polynesia is expected to move to protect its 5 million square kilometers of ocean to preserve marine ecosystems. In Guatemala, citizens will raise their voices on the importance of freshwater conservation and in India, people will pledge to shift to a sustainable lifestyle. In Nepal, WWF will mobilize public support for a clean and renewable energy future for all.

In the decade since its inception in 2009, Earth Hour in Indonesia has been supported by 67 cities, driven by 1500 active volunteers spread across 31 cities, and recorded 2 million supporters through digital activation. From 2014 to 2017, WWF-Indonesia and the Earth Hour Indonesia community have been actively involved in initiating conservation programs and have transplanted 1460 coral reef seedlings at 5 locations in Bali and 13,110 mangrove seedlings in 6 regions, namely: Bali, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Aceh, Tangerang, and Serang.

In the implementation of Earth Hour 2018 in Indonesia, WWF and the Earth Hour Community in 31 Cities will focus on four main issues, namely initiating a campaign for zero waste areas in 31 cities, planting 26,000 mangrove seedlings in more than 15 regions throughout Indonesia, initiating commitments from 9 campuses in 9 cities for consumer awareness building programs for sustainable consumption patterns, and mobilizing awareness building campaigns related to biodiversity and anti-trafficking campaigns for protected wildlife in 310 schools in 31 cities throughout Indonesia.

"Earth Hour in Indonesia is recognized worldwide as the largest community movement. For the next 3 years, the Earth Hour Community together with WWF-Indonesia will support the Indonesian government to achieve its commitment to reduce emissions by 26% by 2020 through the reforestation movement," said Dewi Satriani, WWF-Indonesia Campaign Manager. In addition, this movement will also support the achievement of SDG 12 targets, namely sustainable consumption and production patterns. "We invite all supporters, including individuals, communities, organizations, business people, government, media to be directly involved in all actions taken," Dewi continued.

Starting today, supporters can visit connect2earth.org to share what biodiversity and nature means to them, and where they live and find out more about it. As part of a partnership with the secretariat of the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity, the platform aims to build mass awareness of the value of biodiversity and nature by starting a global conversation on issues such as climate action, healthy oceans and sustainable business. The project is supported by the German Ministry of the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety, with funding from the International Climate Initiative.

""Earth Hour is a testament to the power and simple idea of inspiring people to take action to protect the Earth. As we take an hour to reflect on the important role that biodiversity and nature play in our lives, let this be the spark that multiplies action for transformation to a more sustainable future,"" said Cristiana Paşca Palmer, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)."" The CBD Secretariat is delighted to be working with WWF, and with people around the world to build a Movement where people and communities make a personal connection with the Earth. The reflections, conversations and actions we begin today will help protect biodiversity at local, national and global levels, and take us on a journey of living in harmony with nature.

Visit www.earthhour.org to find out what is happening around the world and read individual stories about what they are doing for our planet. It is our time to secure a healthy, sustainable and climate resilient future for everyone.

Editor's Note:
Link to Earth Hour's 2018 music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZYiJLH2toY&feature=youtu.be

Link to photos of previous Earth Hour events and impacts: https://hive.panda.org/Share/wdv0o80b113lxo2s2s6mk5xi6qvn185j

Contact:

 Anastasia Joanita, Media Relation Officer WWF-Indonesia, email: ajoanita@wwf.id, Hp: 081316548778

 Galih Aji Prasongko, Campaign & Mobilization Officer WWF- Indonesia, email: gprasongko@wwf.id, Hp: 085692400192

 Dewi Satriani, Campaign & Mobilization Manager WWF- Indonesia, email: dsatriani@wwf.id, Hp: +62-811 910970