On March 19, an international annual action "Earth Hour" will be held all over the world - it is proposed to turn off electrical appliances from 20:30 to 21:30 in order to express solidarity with environmental problems on our planet. The action is organized by the World Wildlife Fund ( WWF), first held in Australia in 2007. Since then, every year on one of the last Saturdays in March, it is held in many countries of the world. In 2015, more than 2 billion people from 172 countries took part - the action became the most massive environmental initiative on the planet.

Earth Hour in London, 2013. globallookpress.com

Every year the initiative is gaining more and more popularity, only in our country this year it will be supported in more than 120 cities: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kirov, Ulyanovsk, Rostov, Murmansk, Tyumen, Penza, Tomsk, Tula, Samara, Volgograd , Ufa and other cities. It is planned to extinguish the external lighting of the Moscow Kremlin for one hour. As noted in the presidential press service, this year the action will be held under the slogan "Take a step towards the planet" - with its help the organizers hope to draw attention to ecological culture and the importance of forming new habits in order to avoid inefficient use of natural resources.

The World Wildlife Fund notes that the theme of Earth Hour this year in Russia is the ecological footprint - a measure of human impact on the planet, which allows calculating the surface area of ​​the planet that can provide residents with resources and absorb waste. So, if everyone on the planet lived like Russians, it would take 2.5 Earths.

In Moscow, more than 900 buildings will "go out", including the GUM, the Government House and the City Hall, St. Basil's Cathedral. Petersburg will turn off the illumination of the Peter and Paul Fortress, Palace, Troitsky, Birzhevoy and Blagoveshchensky bridges, as well as several architectural ensembles. 103 reserves and 48 national parks of the country will also take part in the action. Russia has been participating in the event since 2008, the Kremlin began to turn off its external lighting in 2013, the number of participants in our country varies from 16 to 20 million people.

Earth Hour in Moscow, 2014. globallookpress.com

The organizers note that the lights are turned off not so much to save energy, but as a sign of concern for environmental problems and the future of the Earth.

"Earth Hour" in Moscow, 2013. globallookpress.com

Every year in Russia, within the framework of the action, attention is drawn to current environmental initiatives: in 2013, a collection of signatures was organized for the prohibition of industrial felling in protective forests, in 2014 the organizers asked for support of projects to protect rare species of animals, in 2015 the participants supported the initiative for stopping hydrocarbon production projects on the Arctic shelf.

In preparation for the campaign in 2016, the Foundation talks about the necessary steps to change their daily habits and create a more sustainable lifestyle in 7 areas: shopping, food, transport and travel, recycling, housing, water and culture. On the site WWF it is proposed to pass a special test to find out your eco-trail, as well as to support a project to save the untouched forests of Russia, which are threatened by logging. To save 100-year-old forests in the Arkhangelsk Region, it is necessary to collect 2 million rubles, which is equivalent to 10 million trees (4 thousand hectares of forests).

Earth Hour in Budapest, 2015. globallookpress.com

The forest is called the “climate keeper” - trees not only saturate the air with oxygen, but also help slow down global warming. Currently, the Fund is working on preserving intact forests in the Amur, Barents Sea, Altai-Sayan and Caucasian regions - by mid-2017 it is planned to save 75 million trees (150 thousand hectares of forests).

Energy companies have their own concerns: a one-time shutdown and subsequent switching on by many consumers could lead to a surge in consumption, which could negatively affect the functioning of the power system. However, the Fund refutes these assumptions, since such surges are usual for plants - fluctuations in capacity during the event from 2009 to 2015 were much less than those that could pose a threat. In addition, there are time intervals when mass “on” and “off” are common: from 7 to 9 am, as well as in the evening.

At the same time, various actions, an ecological flash mob and a bike ride will be held in Moscow, according to the official portal of the mayor and the government of Moscow.

To become a member of the flash mob, you need to come to the monument to Yuri Dolgoruky, located opposite the city hall on the street. Tverskaya, 13.

The main participants in the action will be schools that have become winners and laureates of the Environmental Flash Mob 2017 competition. The current "Earth Hour" will be held under the slogan "Change yourself, not the planet."

The main topic of the action will be the environmental responsibility of every person living on the planet.

Let us remind you that Earth Hour is an international event. As part of this action, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) calls for turning off the lights and household electrical appliances for just 60 minutes as a sign of concern for the future of our planet.

In addition, the illumination of all the most famous buildings and monuments around the world will be turned off for one hour.

This year the international Earth Hour will be held for the tenth time. The action is held in order to arouse interest in the problem of climate change, the energy unification of mankind.

This event was first organized in 2007 in Australia and received worldwide support the following year.

In 2009, the action became the most massive in the history of mankind, more than a billion inhabitants of the planet took part in it.

In Russia, "Earth Hour" has been held since 2009. In Moscow, a few years ago, the illumination was turned off only on 70-80 buildings, in 2014 their number reached about 400, and in 2016 - about 800.

Last year in the capital, the events on Red Square were culminating. Exactly at 20.30, the illumination of the architectural ensemble of the Kremlin, St. Basil's Cathedral, GUM, Manezh, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the buildings of the Russian government and the Moscow government, Moscow State University and other high-rises were turned off.

Earth Hour was supported by residents of more than 120 Russian cities. The action was attended by up to 20 million people.

Every year at the end of March, the Earth Hour campaign is held in the world - decorative lighting goes out for 60 minutes in cities, and people turn off the lights and household electrical appliances. So for 10 years the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has been drawing the attention of the planet's inhabitants to the problem of climate change.

Today Earth Hour is the most massive environmental campaign on the planet. According to WWF, more than 2 billion people around the world, more than 170 countries and about 7,000 cities take part in it. In 2016, Earth Hour took place on Saturday, March 19.

Meanwhile, you can help the planet not only once a year, but every day. Useful habits that preserve the environment - in a special TASS project.

Save energy

It is no secret that non-renewable resources - coal, gas and oil - are mainly used to generate energy, while carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, gets into the atmosphere (causing the greenhouse effect - an increase in the temperature of the lower layers of the planet's atmosphere). Every year humanity consumes more and more energy, further polluting nature. The easiest way to save the environment is to use energy efficiently. A few simple steps will help the residents of the metropolis in this:

Use energy saving and LED bulbs. They use less energy and can last up to 20 years.

Turn off the lights in the room when you leave.

Turn off your computer; do not leave it in sleep mode for a long time.

Remember to unplug any chargers from the wall outlet. They consume electricity even when not used for their intended purpose.

Interesting fact

LED bulbs (light-emitting diodes) use 85% less energy than incandescent lamps and 50% less electricity than fluorescent and energy-saving lamps. They do not heat up and do not require replacement for a long time, and therefore they can be used in places where the light is on constantly.

The lifespan of LED luminaires is 50 times longer than that of conventional lamps. Plus, the LEDs turn on instantly and emit higher quality continuous light that produces colors that look natural and does not irritate your eyes.

Reduce your exhaust emissions

Exhaust gases are products of oxidation and incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels. Their emissions are the main reason for exceeding the permissible concentrations of toxic substances and carcinogens in the atmosphere of large cities, the formation of smogs, which are a common cause of poisoning in confined spaces.

Exhaust gases are also one of the reasons for the increased greenhouse effect.

Use public transport or a bicycle to get around the city, walk more.

If you get behind the wheel, try to maintain a constant speed limit. Acceleration and deceleration uses more fuel than driving at a constant speed.

Interesting fact

Metropolitan authorities are trying to reduce the harm from exhaust gases. In particular, the use of electric vehicles is being introduced in some large cities. Moscow authorities are taking similar steps.

According to the website of the capital's mayor's office, by the end of 2016, 200 electric charging stations for electric vehicles will operate in the capital, and 55 such devices will be installed by May 1.

Charging stations increase the economic efficiency and reliability of the energy supply of the transport complex. "They also contribute to an increase in the number of environmentally friendly electric vehicles on the streets of the city," said Deputy Mayor of Moscow Maxim Liksutov.

The first charging station for electric vehicles opened in one of the parking lots in the city center in 2015.

Save water

In preventing an environmental disaster, this method plays no less a role than energy conservation. Using water every day, we usually do not think about how much of it is left on the planet and whether there is enough for everyone. Meanwhile, more than a billion people worldwide suffer from water shortages. Save water:

Take a shower, not a bath. Install an economical shower head.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth.

Use a dishwasher to wash a large amount of dishes - this uses significantly less water.

Interesting fact

Dentists advise to spend at least two minutes on high-quality teeth cleaning.

If in the process you do not turn off the tap, then every minute more than 10 liters of water are poured out of it.

Total consumption per day is at least 40, per month - 1200 liters, and per year - 14 600 liters.

For comparison, there are over 70 full baths.

Save paper

Remember that this is how you save the trees.

Select duplex printing in the printer settings. According to some reports, one tree is used for 30 reams of office paper.

Read e-books.

In the office, use a whiteboard that you can write on with a marker instead of sticking reminders.

Interesting fact

According to environmentalists, about ten thousand hectares of forest are cut down annually for the production of toilet paper in Russia.

This problem can be solved very easily.

Just in the supermarket, opt for paper that is made from recycled paper.

The composition is written on the package.

Consume efficiently

Waste in landfills is not used in any way, while some of the materials can be recycled or not thrown away at all. That's why:

Buy as much food and items as you really need. Choose local and seasonal produce with a minimum of packaging. Excess packaging means extra trash.

Do not use disposable plastic bags - they can take over 200 years to decompose in nature. Replace them with reusable bags.

Don't throw away old things. Give them to people in need for shelters and relief funds.

Return used batteries to designated collection points. They contain many heavy metals, which, when they get into the soil, poison it.

Interesting fact

There is no centralized waste collection system in Russia. Meanwhile, in many cities there are corresponding reception points. In particular, the Moscow authorities have launched an interactive map of waste collection points and collection points for recyclable materials.

According to the website of the Moscow mayor's office, on the online map You can find collection points for aluminum cans, energy-saving bulbs and batteries, waste paper, plastic, glass, electronics, tires, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Most of the points of reception of energy-saving lamps in the capital - 1042 points.

We worked on a special project

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Photo: AP Photo / Susan Montoya Bryan, AP Photo / Rajesh Kumar Singh, Ethan Miller / Getty Images, C hristopher Furlong / Getty Images, E PA / KAUSHIK SARKHEL, AP Photo / Andre Penner, Alexander Ryumin / TASS,Sascha Schuermann / Getty Images,Zurab Javakhadze / TASS, George Frey / Getty Images, EPA / SEBASTIAN KAHNERT

. . . . . This year the environmental action will be held under the slogan "Vote for Nature".

Recall, “ Earth Hour " is an international symbolic action, during which the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) calls to turn off the lights and household electrical appliances for one hour as a sign of concern for the future of the planet. . . . . .

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of Moscow clarified that this year more than 200 buildings that did not participate last year will join the action. Among them are educational centers, schools, objects of the Moscow Central Ring.

Will take part in the action of the park building “ Zaryadye ", as well as the main buildings of the Moscow City business complex. It is not the first year on the day of the action that the illumination of the capital's skyscrapers and the sports complex “ Luzhniki ", the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, the Ostankino TV tower, the pavilions of the Exhibition of Economic Achievements, the World Trade Center, book houses on Novy Arbat, as well as buildings on Tverskaya Street, Leningradsky Prospekt, Prospekt Mira. The illumination of railway stations and bridges, buildings of most theaters and museums will be turned off for an hour.

A total of 1.9 thousand buildings will take part in the action. . . . . .

. . . . .

“Every year the number of participants supporting this important environmental initiative is growing - in 2015, the lighting was switched off in more than 800 buildings, in 2016 - in 1.5 thousand buildings, in 2017 - 1.7 thousand. buildings, in 2018 - more than 1.9 thousand. ", - said A. Kulbachevsky.

He noted that last year the lighting was turned off in the Moscow Kremlin, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, at the stadium “ Luzhniki ", in the Bolshoi Theater, the State Duma and the Federation Council, buildings on the street. Novy Arbat and st. Tverskaya, as well as in the buildings of a number of railway stations, hotels, cultural objects, pavilions of VDNKh, in the Ostankino tower and some towers "Moscow City ".

"In 2018, more than 200 buildings are planning to join the action, which were not there last year - among them educational centers, MCC facilities, objects in the park" Zaryadye " as well as the main buildings "Moscow City " - “Empire ", "Federation Tower ", MFC " Eye ", IFC "City of Capitals", "Mercury Tower", SEC Afimall City, tower “ Evolution ", “Tower 2000 ", "Tower on the Embankment" and other buildings, "- said the head of the department.

. . . . . The promotion is held annually on one of the last Saturdays in March.

. . . . .

According to him, the number of participants in the environmental campaign is increasing every year. . . . . . This year this figure is 1.9 thousand buildings. . . . . . This year, the illumination will be turned off, including objects in the park “ Zaryadye ", MCC, main buildings "Moscow City ".

. . . . .

Earlier, the iz.ru portal reported that in 2017 the campaign “ Earth Hour " broke the record for the number of participating countries.