Go Dark for Earth Hour, Saturday, March 29 at 8:30 p.m. Local Time


WASHINGTON, March 25, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday March 29th at 8:30 p.m., millions of people across the world are switching off lights for one hour to celebrate their commitment to the planet. Participants in Earth Hour will include iconic landmarks like the Empire State Building and the St. Louis Gateway Arch; major cities around the globe including Chicago and Las Vegas; and individuals in more than 150 countries as part of the world's largest voluntary environmental action.

"Earth Hour is an annual display of how our imagination can inspire and engage hundreds of millions to focus on the one thing that unites us – our planet," said Keya Chatterjee, director of renewable energy and footprint outreach for World Wildlife Fund (WWF). "In addition to raising global awareness, we are also transforming that excitement into local action to prepare our communities for the impacts of extreme weather and climate change."

While turning off the lights for an hour serves as a symbolic gesture, participants can go beyond the hour with simple changes to reduce energy consumption year-round. Homeowners can make a huge impact by installing solar panels, but even small changes like switching to LED light bulbs, taking public transportation, or wasting less food can make a difference.

ABOUT WORLD WILDLIFE FUND

WWF is the world's leading conservation organization, working in 100 countries for nearly half a century. With the support of almost 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.

CONTACT:Lorin Hancock, Lorin.Hancock@WWFUS.org