13 March 2018, SINGAPORE – Earth Hour, the landmark movement by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), is back with a festival highlighting the global plastics crisis. By helping people understand how plastics impact the natural world, Earth Hour 2018 will rally support for the actions and solutions needed to address plastic waste in Singapore.
Plastics are a mainstay in everyday life, but excessive usage is impacting ocean health and biodiversity. By 2050, there could be more plastic in the ocean than fish by weight.
The use of fossil fuels to manufacture plastics further worsens climate change. 3 million plastic bags and bottles are sold every 60 seconds around the world. In Singapore, a person uses 13 plastic bags a day, amounting to 27 billion plastic bags every year.
“A mindset overhaul on plastics is due in Singapore. Plastics can be a resource, but a staggering amount is used and produced today. Having individuals understand the issue and more importantly, take action to reduce their plastic use, is key to a lasting solution. Earth Hour aims to drive this change right here in Singapore,” said Elaine Tan, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-Singapore.
People in Singapore are asked to support the Earth Hour movement with a #uselessplastic commitment: to reduce plastic use, and to refuse “useless” or unnecessary plastics such as straws, bags and stirrers.
To drive home the message, Earth Hour will be a plastic-free event. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own reusable bottles, and no single-use plastics will be provided by participating vendors.
Earth Hour 2018 Activities
Earth Hour is held in conjunction with i Light Marina Bay, which encourages sustainability through a showcase of 22 light art installations. The 10-day festival from 16-25 March will feature interactive experiences, art and family-friendly games at the Earth Hour Village. The annual 60+ Countdown Bash will take place on 24 March, with the Singapore skyline going dim at 8.30pm.
Journey through nature (16-25 March): A Panda Dome with a 360° projection transports viewers to lush nature settings, following a protagonist who is plagued by plastic waste.
Art installations by LASALLE College of the Arts (16-25 March): A collection of four art installations, made from used plastics, by LASALLE Diploma and BA(Hons) Fine Arts students will also be on exhibit. Each installation captures a different aspect of the issue, from single-use plastics to microplastics.
Great Panda Quest (16-25 March): A kids-friendly game where visitors can spot WWF’s Pandas along Marina Bay and complete a series of tasks for a chance to win exclusive prizes.
Earth Hour Marketplace (23-25 March): Features sustainable F&B options and lifestyle merchandise from eco-friendly businesses such as VeganBurg and Charles & Keith.
60+ Countdown Bash (24 March, 6-10.30pm): The line-up of performers include Singapore’s biggest acts such as Tacit Aria, Jack & Rai, Dru Chen and Jukuleles.
Through an online platform called Connect2Earth (connect2earth.org), WWF aims to spark conversations about nature and biodiversity around the world. The social data gathered through the hashtag #Connect2Earth will be used to identify current environmental topics based on geographical locations.
Earth Hour is supported by CHARLES & KEITH, FairPrice and StarHub, as well as media partners Blue Ant Media and Outdoor Channel.
Opening Hours:
Earth Hour Village: 16-25 March, 5pm – 9pm
Earth Hour Marketplace: 23-25 March, 11am – 10pm (10.30pm on 24 March)
60+ Countdown Bash: 24 March, 6pm – 10.30pm
