NYC Landmarks, Empire State Building, Coca-Cola Billboard in Times Square and Time Warner Center, to Turn Out Lights for WWF’s Earth Hour

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As momentum builds around the world for the first global vote for action on climate change, several of New York City’s most recognizable buildings and landmarks have committed to turn off their lights for World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour.

“This will be a pivotal year in the future of our planet as we look to Congress, President Obama and global leaders to take immediate and decisive action on climate change”

Beginning at 8:30 p.m. on March 28^th, individuals and organizations around New York City will turn off non-essential lighting on some of the most iconic structures that make up the Manhattan skyline. New Yorkers will join the global movement that has spread to more than 1,000 cities in 80 countries. In the U.S., the city joins Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville and San Francisco in dimming its skyline to cast a vote for action on the climate crisis.

“This will be a pivotal year in the future of our planet as we look to Congress, President Obama and global leaders to take immediate and decisive action on climate change,” said Carter Roberts, CEO of World Wildlife Fund. “Having New York City go dark for Earth Hour will send a powerful message to the world that the U.S. is ready to assume a leadership position in solving one of the most serious challenges facing our planet today. By turning out the lights, the people of New York City will be casting a vote in support of the future of the Earth.”

During Earth Hour 2009, lights are slated to go out in some of New York City’s most renowned buildings and landmarks including:

Empire State Building
Citigroup Center
Coca-Cola Billboard in Times Square
New York Life
Time Warner Center
The New York Public Library
7 World Trade Center and the other Silverstein Properties buildings
The Helmsley Building and other Monday Properties buildings
Grand Hyatt New York

Joining these properties are top New York City organizations and institutions including Columbia University, PACE University, the Building Owners and Managers Association of New York, the U.S. Green Building Council New York, Fall Out Boy Pete Wentz’s Angels + Kings, and many more.

Around the world, icons committed to Earth Hour include:

The Las Vegas Strip
Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
Sears Tower in Chicago
Eiffel Tower in Paris
Notre Dame in Paris
Sydney Opera House
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro
Niagara Falls
Stockholm Castle
Burj Dubai

Oscar nominated actor and New York City resident Edward Norton is the official ambassador for Earth Hour 2009 with support from Nobel Prize Laurite Archbishop Desmond Tutu, actresses Janeane Garofalo and Jennette McCurdy, fashionistas Stacy London and Clinton Kelly, as well as musicians Linkin Park, Alanis Morissette, Coldplay, Jo Dee Messina, Big Kenny (Big & Rich), Gavin DeGraw, KT Tunstall, Mary Mary, Dierks Bently, Wynonna Judd, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Lady Antebellum, SHeDAISY, Finger Eleven, Simple Plan, Justin Nozuka, The Veronicas and Rise Against.

WWF officials stressed the importance of safety during Earth Hour, noting that all lighting related to public safety will remain on.

More information about Earth Hour and ways to get involved can be found at www.EarthHourUS.org and www.EarthHourUS.org/newyork

National partners for WWF's Earth Hour 2009 are Esurance, Cox Enterprises, The Coca-Cola Company, Wells Fargo and Hewlett-Packard.

Note to Editors: B-roll and Earth Hour still images can be found at http://www.earthhourus.org/broll.php

About World Wildlife Fund and Earth Hour

Earth Hour (www.EarthHourUS.org) is a global initiative of WWF in which millions of people around the world will cast a vote in favor of action on climate change by turning off their lights for one hour on March 28, 2009 at 8:30 pm local time. By voting with their light switches, Earth Hour participants will send a powerful, visual message to their leaders demanding immediate action on climate change. 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, stop the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more.