FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION ENCOURAGES FLORIDIANS TO TAKE PART IN EARTH HOUR 2009 ~Reduce environmental impact, support action by turning off your lights for one hour~ TALLAHASSEE The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today asked Floridians to take part in Earth Hour 2009, a global climate change initiative sponsored by The World Wildlife Fund. The annual campaign encourages people to turn off their lights for one hour, at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2008, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and show support for worldwide action on climate change. By taking simple steps like turning off a light, we can reduce our energy use and our greenhouse gas emissions, said DEP Secretary Michael W. Sole. Conserving energy is one of the easiest ways we can take action to reduce the harmful effects of global climate change, and Earth Hour reminds us that we must act now to protect our environment for future generations. Earth Hour is a global climate change campaign that calls on individuals, businesses, governments and communities around the world to turn off their lights for one hour, reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also signifying support for action on climate change issues. The initiative shows people and companies how easy it is to take action to reduce the effects of climate change, by turning off non-essential lighting for one hour as well as identifying long-term actions to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Earth Hour began in 2007 in Sydney, Australia, when more than two million residents turned off their lights for one hour. In 2008, more than 50 million people around the globe participated. This year, the Earth Hour campaign hopes to reach out to one billion people in 1,000 cities around the world. To date, more than 900 cities in 80 countries have pledged to take part in Earth Hour 2009. For more information on Earth Hour 2009, or to pledge your participation, visit www.earthhour.org. For more information on Florida s actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, visit www.myfloridaclimate.com. | 